April, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 189 



in remembrance as that of a man who, in the early days of 

 Australia, did yeoman service in the cause of science, and in one 

 particular branch — that of ethnology — accomplished work which 

 will always rank as of primary importance. To the public of 

 Victoria he was known as the man who rescued the remnant of the 

 Burke and Wills Expedition, but to those who had the privilege 

 of knowing him personally this was merely an episode in the life of 

 a man of simple and noble character, whose one aim was a 

 ceaseless and tireless search for truth, W, B. S, 



"A Guide to the Study of Australian Butterflies." — 

 A popular work on the butterflies of Australia has long been 

 wanted, and in the volume under notice Mr. W. J. Rainbow, 

 F.L.S., F.E.S., Entomologist to the Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 has endeavoured to enlist the sympathies of lovers of those 

 delicate creatures known as butterflies, and tell them something 

 about the life-histories of their favourites. Much yet remains to 

 be told, and the volume shows in what direction there is yet 

 work to be done. Mr, Rainbow has not aimed at giving a 

 complete work on the butterflies of Australia, but rather such a 

 work as is always required by the beginner in any branch of 

 study, and, therefore, every butterfly which has been recorded 

 for Australia has not been included, only those of which some- 

 thing is known about their earlier stages. An interesting intro- 

 duction gives a general glance at the four stages in the life- 

 history of a butterfly, while the following chapter contains a 

 number of useful instructions in collecting, preserving, and 

 breeding specimens. Six chapters are then devoted to an 

 account of the principal species of the five great families of 

 Australian butterflies. In these all stages of the various species 

 are dealt with at length, a vast amount of information given in a 

 popular way, and, as the letterpress is interspersed with numerous 

 illustrations, the reader's interest is gradually excited, so that he 

 feels he would like to go out in the field and find a caterpillar, 

 and thence work out its wonderful life-history. A useful glossary 

 of the technical terms used is given, together with a list of the 

 butterflies figured, numbering about 104, In addition to these 

 illustrations, 184 figures are given of eggs, larvge, or pupse of 

 various species. The volume is well indexed, but we still think 

 that, though a popular work, a systematic index showing at a 

 glance the arrangement of the families and species dealt with 

 siiould have been included. A frontispiece by the three-colour 

 process and six half-tone plates lend additional interest to the 

 illustrations, and finally the publisher, Mr. T. C. Lothian, is to 

 be congratulated on the printing and get-up of the volume, 

 which we trust will have a ready sale, and as the price fixed — 

 three shillings and sixpence — is not exorbitant it should find a 

 place on every naturalist's bookshelf. 



