140 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



be our position in a similar case to-day, with the Natural History of 

 British Butterjiies their World-inde Variation and Geographical Dis- 

 tribution to hand ! It was, as might be expected, with keen avidity 

 that Ave read, when it appeared, all that the niagmun opus had to tell 

 us about this species, and it is a subject for marvel, as well as con- 

 gratulation, that so much information has not only been compiled, 

 but is actually new, within ten years. We have also now excellent 

 illustrations of the egg, pupa, and newly-emerged imago (pi. xix., 

 ligs. 1-3). It is pleasant to know our old friend boeticus by its 

 old name still. We thank Mr. Tutt for this, and to learn that 

 it, and perhaps it alone, has any ancestral right among its Palae- 

 arctic relations, to the generic name of Lanipides. Recent changes 

 in nomenclature have been so bewildering and frequent that it 

 is customary to hear men who desire to be understood, express 

 themselves somewhat in this way, " I mean the little beast we used to 

 'call aec/on." Perhaps it is with a conscientious desire to maintain 

 some permanent scientific landmarks, that in another excellent recent 

 publication the author has retained such fantastic names as " The 

 hriglit-Une brown eye " and " The brown-line bright eye,'' etc. ! The life- 

 history of Lampides boeticus, however, is worked out thoroughly and 

 systematically, besides cataloguing any changes it may have experienced 

 in names and titles. Sexual dimorphism and variation are fully 

 treated. A useful tabulation of the variation in the females of the 

 British Museum collection has been drawn up. Interesting details of 

 the wide range of difference in size of individual specimens tend to 

 ■disprove the existence of a separate seasonal form, aestiva, Zell. The 

 method of oviposition, with the variety of plants selected by the female, 

 is full of instruction as treated here. The ovum is minutely described, 

 and compared with that of Uaywardia (Langia) telicanns, with habits 

 and description of larva and pupa, the two last-named almost entirely 

 from the results of recent observations, whilst the plates of the 

 remarkable calyciform hairs of the larva (pi. xx) as well as the 

 comparison of the types of Theclid and Lycaenid hairs (pi. xxi) 

 are interesting. The wonderful ear-like structure that covers in 

 the prothoracic spiracle of the pupa is beautifully figured (pi. xxii., 

 fig. 2) as also is an abdominal spiracle and its attendant lenticles 

 (fig. 1). About the method of pupation there appears to be still 

 some disagreement, but it would seem to be quite certain from 

 observations made in Guernsey that, when L. boeticus feeds on Colutea, 

 it does not pupate in the pods. The hole through Avhich the insect has 

 made its exit is plainly visible (we think as a larva), and, of large 

 numbers examined, we have never found any trace of the pupa-case 

 Avithin the abandoned cubicle. This was also our opinion from exam- 

 ination of the foodplant at Follaterre, near Martigny, Avhere we have 

 taken the larvae. The peculiar connection betw^een thi^; species and ants 

 is detailed, and the special glands by Avhich and to which the ants are 

 attracted are described in detail, the honey-gland being shoAvn in pi. xx., 

 tig. 2. Of the reputed British captures, Mr. Tutt gives the evidence, 

 and leaves his readers to judge for themselves as to Avhich are Avorthy of 

 •credence. Lastly, the astonishingly Avide distribution of this interest- 

 ing butterfly is traced through A,frica, Australia, , South and Central 

 Europe, Asia, East Indies, and the Pacitic Islands, noting A\'here it is a 

 native, and where an immigrant only. But enough has been said to 



