114 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. x'\ 



A Natural History of the British Lepidoptera. A text-book 'for stui 

 dents and collectors. By J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. Vol. VIII. 

 London: Berlin; 1906. 

 This volume appears out of its regular order, preceding volume^ 

 V and VI, as the matter composing it was found ready. It hz 

 been appearing in parts under the title ''A Natural History of the 

 British Butterflies. ' ' The work extends to 479 pages, and is extremel) 

 full and extended, treating of only ten species of British butterfliesj 

 although including a considerable amount of general discussion. Th« 

 method of nomination of types is followed in determining the type^ 

 of genera, a fresh study having been made by the author, with result^ 

 differing from previous determinations, as would be expected, 

 great many divisions are proposed for the butterflies. For examplej 

 the Skippers are given superfamily rank, under the name Urbicolides ;^ 

 the three subfamilies of Watson are said to be " evidently of full 

 family value," and are accordingly divided into subfamilies and tribes. 

 We think this is an exaggeration of the importance of the characters 

 of these butterflies, caused by concentrated study of too slender ma- 

 terial. The characters given to define the so-called families are clearly 

 of subordinate value and are really scarcely sufficient to indicate sub- 

 families. We are sorry that the author did not attempt a new classi- 

 fication without the use of secondary sexual characters. Some of the 

 genera are too close and should be united. This multiplicity of genera 

 is comparatively harmless in a work treating of so few species, but if 

 it were to be applied to the world species, it would be found impracti- 

 cable. But in general we have little fault to find with the book, and 

 much to commend. It will be many years before such a work on 

 American Lepidoptera will be possible. 



Field Tables to Lepidoptera. By William T. M. Forbes. Worcester, 



Mass., 1906. 



This pamphlet contains: (1) A key to the caterpillars of the 

 Eastern United States, the only general work on American caterpillars 

 published. It separates them by artificial characters and prominent 

 structural differences; (2) field tables of butterflies, sphinxes, sa- 

 turnians, etc., giving common as well as scientific names, brief de- 

 scrijDtion, size, frequency in New England, seasons, haunts, and other 

 items of interest; (3) an artificial key to the butterflies of New Eng- 

 land, more complete than others. Much of it has been tested by the 



