118 October, 



Die Lepidopteeen dee Schweiz, von Professor Dr. Heineich Feet. Leipzig, 

 Yerlag von Wilhelin Engelinann, 1880. 8vo, 454 pp. 



The idea of this book conceived in 1849, " in the sunny days " of the author's 

 "youth " is now happily brought to a satisfactory completion. 



Switzerland has for long been the holiday ground for all European Nations, and 

 of late years our pages have shown the increasing number of English Lepidopterists 

 who have spent some happy hours in collecting there. Its varied aspects and the inex- 

 pressible charm of its snow-mountains, with their brilliant Alpine Flora, offer a 

 series of attractions, which those who have once experienced them will most readily 

 admit are not easily resisted. 



Any one can pass through life without entering Switzerland, but he who has 

 once been there is almost certain to return thither. 



The volume before us, very clearly printed (and on paper that it is an actual 

 pleasure to touch), enumerates 2508 Swiss Lepidoptera, or if certain varieties (which 

 by some are considered species) be included, the number will be raised to 2829. Like 

 most of those, who have given their attention to the subject for any length of time, 

 Professor Frey is disposed to extend his ideas of the limits of species farther than is 

 generally customary. " Der Artbegriff ist in dem Nachfolgenden weiter ausgedehnt, 

 als es bisher boi den Lepidopterologen (namentlich den industriellen) ublich ist." 



Frey's volume is not a descriptive work ; there are a few descriptions of new 

 species and varieties, but the older, well-known species are simply mentioned by 

 their long established names (the recent innovations introduced into the last edition 

 of Staudinger's Catalogue, being placed between brackets), and a reference is given 

 to a figure of Hubner, or Herrich-Schaffer, &c, thus, " Hadena Polyodon, L. 

 (Monoglypha, Hufn.), (Hb. 82)." 



The habits of the larva where known are given, and the months and special 

 haunts of the imago ; then follow the actual localities in which the species has 

 been noticed and by whom, and stress is laid on its range in elevation, so that we 

 see at a glance the extent to which any species occurs in the Higher Alps. 



In a note at p. 266, we are reminded that the singular genus Acentropus, which 

 can hardly fail to occur in such a well-watered country as Switzerland, has not yet 

 been noticed there, although Reutti met with it on the Northern shores of the Lake 

 of Constance. "But," says Frey, "who troubles himself there about such a small 

 white thing." 



It is remarked that none of the aquatic Pyralidce attain any great elevation. 

 Frey never saw one of that group at an Alpine Lake. 



The introductory chapter, which speaks of the physical geography of Switzerland 

 and its consequent wonderful varieties of climate within such short distances, ranging 

 from the perpetual snow of the higher alps to Locarno on the shores of Lago 

 Maggiore, where we have all the luxuriance of an Italian valley, is a fitting prelude 

 to the work which follows. 



The distribution of plants is also touched upon. Then the author starts Dhe 

 question : " Whence come the existing Lepidoptera of Switzerland ?" 



This is discussed through several pages, and then two other queries are pro- 



