ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Mar., '14 



illustrations in the new "Berge," and everybody admits that the but- 

 terflies illustrated therein, in that complex mixed company in which 

 caterpillars, plants and butterflies are placed together upon a tinted 

 background, present an attractive picture. But, alas! how do these 

 "pictures" compare with those of the "Seitz," taken from a scientific 

 viewpoint, which is of the greatest importance to the collector? If, 

 for instance, a Batis in the "Seitz" is entered into competition with 

 the corresponding picture of a Batis in the "Berge," plate 28, figure 

 49, e, a vast difference manifests itself. This also applies to the illus- 

 trations of the Vienna peacock's-eye-butterfly ! Looking at plate 29 

 of "Berge," without comparing real nature, one is well pleased with 

 the pyri picture, fig. i, b; but a comparison with the figure in the 

 "Seitz," table 316, discloses the mistakes of the former at once. The 

 borders and the ground of the wings of pyri are in the "Berge" yel- 

 lowish-red, whereas, in reality, they are grey, as correctly depicted 

 in the "Seitz." Of course the representation of pyri in the "Seitz" 

 does not make a brilliant showing, as only one-half of the insect is 

 illustrated, which is furthermore not as finely touched up, in order to 

 be in accordance with real nature, and because it does not show any 

 head. But by comparing it with a specimen in one's collection, it is 

 at once evident, that, viewed from above, all pyri seem to be head- 

 less, as also spini and pavonia. The picture in the "Berge," which 

 shows a big head, is nothing but a phantasm, while the half-picture 

 in the "Seitz" is pure, genuine nature. It is therefore to anybody, 

 who earnestly intends to work in Entomology, far more valuable, 

 than the "trimmed-up" and "pleasingly grouped" illustrations of ama- 

 teur-works. 



This point apparently so accessory has been mentioned quite in- 

 tentionally, as there is a species closely resembling pyri, namely at- 

 lantica, on which, viewed from above, the fore-head is clearly to be 

 seen. As the plates in the "Seitz" are admittedly scientific in their 

 preciseness, everybody may find in them a productive source of ento- 

 mological perception, and an inexhaustible spring of pleasure. To 

 convey an idea of the number of plates contained in the different vol- 

 umes of "Seitz," so far printed, it must be mentioned, that up to last 

 year they already exceeded 500. 



As it is, the author has unquestionably earned well-deserved praise 

 with the eminently satisfactory issue of the Second Volume of Ma- 

 crolepidoptera. In the meantime Volume III has also been finished, 

 and Volume IV is nearly completed. It goes without saying, that 

 these later volumes are just as excellent in every particular as the 

 two former ones. 



"Macrolepidoptera of the World" is also published in a separate 

 English edition by the Verlag des Seitz'schen Werkes, Stuttgart, Ger- 

 many. 



