218 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



everybody admits that the butterflies illustrated therein, in that 

 complex mixed company, in which caterpillars, plants and butter- 

 flies are placed together upon a tinted background, present an 

 attractive picture. But how do these "pictures" compare with 

 those of the "Seitz" from a scientific viewpoint. If, for instance, 

 a Bat is in the "Seitz" be compared with the corresponding figure of 

 a Batis in the " Berge " (Plate 28, figure 49e), a vast difference 

 manifests itself. This also applies to the illustrations of the 

 Vienna Emperor Moth. Looking at Plate 29 of "Berge," without 

 comparing with nature, one is well pleased with the figure of 

 "pyri," fig. lb; but a comparison with the figure in the "Seitz," 

 table 31b, discloses the mistakes of the former at once. The 

 borders and the ground colour of the wings in the "Berge" are 

 yellowish red, whereas, in reality they are grey, as correctly de- 

 picted 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, and is furthermore not as finely elaborated, 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, pyri 

 seems to be headless, as do also spini and pavonia. The figure in 

 the "Berge," which shows a big head, is a mere phantasm, while 

 the half figure in the "Seitz" is genuine nature. It is, therefore, 

 to anybody who earnestly intends to work in Entomology far more 

 valuable, than the "trimmed-up" and "pleasingly grouped" il- 

 lustrations of amateur-works. 



This apparently trivial point has been mentioned quite in- 

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

 atlantica, in which, viewed from above, the forehead is clearly to 

 be seen. 



To convey an idea of the number of plates contained in the 

 different volumes of "Seitz," so far printed, it may 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 Macrolepidoptera." In the meantime Volume III has also 

 been finished, and Volume IV is nearly completed. It goes 



