1884.1 * 141 



The Btjttebflies of Etjeope, illusti-ated and described by Henry Charles 

 Lang, M.D., F.L.S. London : Keeve & Co. 1881—1884, pp. 396, super royal 8vo, 

 with 77 chromo-lithograpliic plates. 



We congratulate Dr. Lang on the conclusion of what was really a gigantic un- 

 dertaking, and in having satisfactorily supplied what was a distinct desideratum to 

 the numerous tourists with entomological proclivities who annually take their 

 holiday on the Continent, and to others who, without being themselves travellers, 

 collect European Butterflies. It is the only work of the kind in existence, and is 

 likely to remain so. Not claiming to be a strictly scientific book, it can, nevertheless, 

 i scarcely fail to be consulted by all classes of entomologists, as a collective work. 

 The arrangement followed is that of Staudinger, but the species figured are those 

 Ithat occur in Europe proper ; the other palsearctic (and some nearctic) species are 

 simply described. The descriptions are (with few exceptions) original, with notes 

 !on distribution and brief references to the larvae (when known). More than 800 

 figures are given on the 77 chromo-lithographic plates ; they are mostly successful, 

 and in many cases infinitely superior to some hand-coloured figures, already pub- 

 lished, of the same species ; but they fail in giving a correct idea when metallic 

 colours (blues and reds) are necessary, as in the Lj/ccenidce. Possibly there is a 

 deficiency 'in what is commonly termed " readable matter." Type and paper are 

 excellent, and the " printer's errors " not numerous (but occasionally unaccountable). 

 Without reckoning " varieties " or " aberrations," the author enumerates 550 species 

 of Butterflies as belonging to the " European (Palsearctic) Fauna," but we are not 

 clear (from the Systematic List) as to the number of those now known as occurring 

 in Europe proper ; the additions from the Asiatic extension of the " Fauna " have 

 been very numerous of late. The result of the labour of three years is now before 

 those likely to be interested, who will, no doubt, judge for themselves as to how far 

 it meets their requirements j we repeat that, in our opinion, a distinct desideratum 

 has been supplied. 



CATALOaiJB OF THE LePIDOPTEEA OF THE BRISTOL DISTRICT. By ALFRED 



E. HuDD. From the Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society. 1878 — 1884. 



This is another valuable addition to the several local lists that have appeared of 

 late, and which, useful as they are at the present time, cannot fail to be of greater 

 service, for comparative purposes, to future generations of local entomologists. The 

 District " is a large one, and includes portions of both Grloucestershire and Somer- 

 setshire. In the immediate vicinity of Bristol are the celebrated Leigh Woods 

 (doomed we fear to early destruction), the home of Drepana sicula, and probably 

 the only spot where the Lime {Tilia parvifolia) is indigenous in Britain. The total 

 number of species listed is 1310 (as against 1341 in Yorkshire and 1246 in Norfolk), 

 of which 55 are Butterflies, 73 Nocturni, 208 Geometrce, 25 Drepanulce and Fseudo- 

 Bomhyces, 215 Noctuce, 57 Pyrales and Deltoids, 42 Cramhidce, 205 Tortrices, 410 

 Tineina, and 20 Pterophori. There have been many energetic workers in the Micros 

 in the District, who have helped to swell the list considerably. Here, as everywhere 

 in this country, we have constantly the remark that Butterflies are becoming extinct 

 or scarcer than formerly ; but it is satisfactory to find that Vanessa c-album still 

 occurs in profusion in some parts of the District. Mr. Hudd and his fellow-workers 

 are to be congratulated on having produced an excellent local list. 



