96 the entomologist's record. 



covered by hindwings. When it first settles, preparatory to sleeping, 

 it has the forewings fairly well raised, in fact, almost the same as 

 when resting during sunshine, but, after a time, which varies to a large 

 extent, the forewings are allowed to drop behind the hindwings, so 

 that only the tip and costal margin (which is greyish) are visible. It 

 generally sleeps on grass, but I have found a few on the dead stems of 

 the sawwort (Serratula tinctoria). On August 30th it was just ceasing 

 to fly at 5 o'clock. — Raleigh S. Smallman, F.E.S., Wressil Lodge, 

 Wimbledon Common. September 10th, 1906. 





REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



A Natural History of the British Butterflies, by J. W. Tutt. 

 [Vol. I. London : Elliot Stock, Paternoster Row. 1905-06. 479pp.] — 

 This is by far the most elaborate account ever published of the species of 

 butterflies occurring in the British Isles, and is likely to remain the text- 

 book of this fascinating subject for many years to come. Pages 1-78 

 are devoted to the general subject, comprising general observations on 

 butterflies, their various methods of egg-laying, the art of photographing 

 their eggs, their larvae and how they moult, the external and internal 

 structures of the larvas, their association with ants, their carnivorous 

 habits, how to collect the larva?, their silk-spinning habits, their 

 coloration, and finally, their resting-habits. A vast amount of know- 

 ledge, both first- and second-hand, is contained in these interesting- 

 chapters. The systematic part of the work extends from page 81 to 

 page 479, and treats, in a highly scientific manner, of the eight species 

 of "Skippers " and two of " Coppers " found in Britain. Each species 

 is reviewed under every possible phase, comprising " Synonymy," 

 " Original description," "Imago," "Sexual Dimorphism," "Gynandro- 

 morphism," "Comparison of allied species," "Variation," "Egg- 

 laying," "Ovum," " Comparison of eggs of allied species," " Habits of 

 larva," " Ontogeny of larva," " Larva," "Variation of larva," " Food- 

 plants," " Puparium," " Pupa," " Time of appearance and actual dates 

 of occurrence of imago," "Habitat," "Habits," "British localities," 

 and " Distribution." Remarkably full accounts are given under each 

 of these headings, and two very careful and complete Indexes (General 

 and Special) will at once enable students to refer to the desired 

 information. It is, perhaps, an open question whether it is advisable 

 to publish exact localities for the rarer species, but the decision in each 

 case seems to us to lie rather with the captor of the insect than with the 

 author of such a work as this. Anyhow, the lists here published are far 

 more voluminous and precise than in any other work, and will, no doubt, 

 be appreciated alike by the arm-chair student and the active collector. 

 Equally important and equally well done are the lists of varieties and 

 aberrations, mostly named, given under each species. If we might be 

 allowed to select one, where all are so ably drawn up, it would be the 

 charming and resplendent Rumicia phlaeas. If any one wants to 

 specialise in a British butterfly, he might well take up the study of 

 this one species, and see how many of its aberrations and varieties he 

 can get together in the course of a few seasons. It is not difficult to 

 rear from the egg, and in some years the imago is quite abundant in 

 suitable localities. The twenty plates contained in this volume are 

 most beautifully executed, consisting largely of photographs by Mr. 



