66 REVIEWS. 



particularly in the drawing, which is, in some instances, highly effective. 

 The colouring is more variable, often evincing great carelessness and want 

 of finish e.g., the nerves of the wings in Pieris brassicaa and rapae are 

 actually coloured a rather strong blue, with a greenish hue from the ground- 

 colour of the wings being yellowish. And even Aporia cratsegi is decorated 

 with blue lines between the black veins, which greatly injures the effect. 

 The ground-colour of the anterior wings of Vanessa io is much more of a 

 brick red than the magnificent " rich, dark, brownish red" mentioned in 

 the text. To the Apaturairis no brush can do any justice; but more might, 

 we think, have been suggested to an entomological student's mind than Mr. 

 Morris has succeeded in doing ; no one, however, ought to be severe on 

 failure where success is so impossible. On the other hand, many of the 

 figures of the Hipparchiaa and some others are coloured with a most happy 

 general effect, as is, we think, the upper side of the Vanessa C. album. 

 On the whole, the figures are very creditable. 



At the end of the book are given very elaborate and particular instruc- 

 tions in the arts of catching, killing, setting, and preserving insects, which 

 will be found very useful and intelligible by the most inexperienced. 

 Figures are given of all the instruments required, the mode of setting, the 

 store-boxes, drying-case, and all the manifold impediments which this pur- 

 suit entails on its votaries. An engraving of the cabinet is promised, but, 

 for some reason, does not appear. The clap-net is the favourite with our 

 author; but we must say we cannot agree in the preference ; it has always 

 seemed to us vastly inferior to a good bag-net, as being much more un- 

 wieldy and less fitted to secure the captured insects. But, every man to 

 his taste. With regard to the best mode of killing insects, we are glad to 

 see that he gives the chloroform bottle a place among the ordinary essen- 

 tials for a lepidopterist : most assuredly it ought to supersede every other 

 method of ancient or modern invention. Why, in some places, he speaks 

 favourably of the " lucifer-match" method, we cannot tell. It is only fit 

 to be forgotten. The instructions given are admirable in the main, and 

 will be found amply sufficient for all purposes. 



And here our notice of this book, so far as it is a " History of British 

 Butterflies," may be considered to end. To the scientific entomologist it 

 will be probably of comparatively little assistance ; but to the uninitiated, 

 or the simple catcher of butterflies, it will be a considerable acquisition ; 

 while the general good temper and friendliness which pervade the whole 

 must dispose every one to feel kindly and cordially towards the enthusiastic 

 and Christian author. A few words must, nevertheless, be added on what 

 seems to us to be the great defect in the book viz., the vast quantity of 



