THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 117 



is inexhaustible. The most attractive side of the study consists in the 

 curious habits and relationships of the different forms, and here is where 

 the talent of the observer is to be tested. The assorting of collections of 

 specimens is a matter of subordinate tact. 



CEYLON BUTTERFLIES. 



The Lepidoptera of Ceylon, by F. Moore, F. Z. S., Vol. I., (published 

 under the special patronage of the Government of Ceylon) London, L. 

 Reeve & Co., 1 880-81. 4 . 



The butterflies of the East India region appear to be now in a fair way of 

 receiving their due share of attention. We have already called attention 

 to Dislant's invaluable work on the Malayan butterflies, and to the hand- 

 book to the butterflies of India and Burmah, by Marshall and De Nice- 

 ville. On many accounts neither of these is so important as the earlier 

 work on the Lepidoptera of Ceylon by Frederick Moore, which we desire 

 to introduce to the readers of the Canadian Entomologist, principally on 

 account of the very considerable accession to our knowledge of the earlier 

 stages of eastern butterflies which is here given in the plates, and also to 

 draw attention to the notes on the natural history of the insects given by Dr. 

 Thwaites, which are embodied in the text. The work as a whole consists 

 of three volumes ; but we speak hereof the butterflies only, which are 

 comprised in the first volume, published in 1880-81. It is a large quarto, 

 with 71 excellent colored plates, in which the early stages are in very 

 many instances figured side by side with the butterflies. Notwithstanding 

 that it is published under the special patronage of the Government of 

 Ceylon, the work is a costly one, and to one residing in the United States 

 an embargo is laid upon its purchase by the fact that the duties upon such 

 a work are so high. This single volume cost me $15 for duties and trans- 

 portation alone. Thus is science encouraged with us ! 



We are here introduced to a new set of illustrations of the early stages 

 of butterflies, many of which are of extreme interest, and these in every 

 family of butterflies. It is the most important and considerable contri- 

 bution to our knowledge since Horsfield's memorable volume. It is a 

 pity, however, that in many instances no reference is made in the text, 

 either in Dr. Thwaites' notes, or Mr. Moore's' descriptive portion, as to the 

 meaning of certain figures which differ strikingly from those of their allies. 



