PROC..ENT. SOC. WASH., vol.. 23, \<>. 4, APRIL, 1V2I 85 



is said to have left an extensive collection of water color paintings 

 of American insects and plants, executed by himself. In for- 

 tunately the drawings have never been published; they are said 

 to be the property of the Missouri Botanical Garden at present. 

 Dr. A. S. Packard states in the introduction to one of his volumes 

 of the Monographs on the Bombycine Moths: "I have also 

 copied in the plates a number of excellent colored drawings of 

 caterpillars made by the late John E. Leconte which were 

 loaned me for such purpose by his son, Dr. John L. Leconte." 

 Unfortunately these drawings were incorporated in two plates 

 with the drawings of other artists, so that it is not possible to 

 identify those made by Major Leconte. It is certain that he did 

 publish one very handsomely illustrated volume on the Lepi- 

 doptera in collaboration with Boisduval. 1 This volume, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Goode, was almost solely the work of Major Leconte, 

 although published under joint authorship. Boisduval states 

 in -the preface to the work that the drawings were colored by 

 John Abbot and intimates that Leconte collaborated with Abbot 

 in the preparation of the illustrations, although Lecortte's name 

 appears on but a single plate. All of the illustrative work is 

 beautifully done and Abbot's name appears on 62 of the 78 

 plates. The choice and application of the pigments evinces the 

 work of a consummate expert, as the colors to-day are as brilliant 

 as though they had been applied but yesterday and there 

 appears no trace of the oxidation which mars many of the older 

 colored illustrations of insects where the pigments have been 

 chosen without regard to their chemical affinity and possible 

 reaction upon each other. In most cases the larva and pupa are 

 shown as well as the adult insect. 



In reviewing the work of the entomological illustrators of 

 the L^nited States, one can not omit, but naturally is reluctant 

 to mention, that farcical volume on entomology which has been 

 dignified by the title of "The Natural History of New York," 

 published in 1854, under the authorship of the geologist Ebene- 

 zer F.mmons. This absurd publication has received the 

 unqualified condemnation of several competent critics such as 

 our colleague, Mr. K. A. Schwarz, who says: "It is utterly 

 worthless from whatever side it may be considered." This 

 emphatic language from one who is ever inclined to speak in 

 terms of charitable tolerance has led me to examine the work 

 with more than usual care and interest in order to discover in 

 what respects the illustrations have merited the strong terms 

 used by our amiable friend. These illustrations consist of 50 

 lithographed plates, colored by hand. They bear the name of 



'Kntirled Historic Generale et loonographie des Lepidopteres cr des C'lirnillrs 

 de 1'Amerique Septentrionale, par Ic Hoi- rcu r Boisduval, i-r M. John 

 .!e New York, Paris, IS.o. 



