REVIEWS. 227 



^ , is the $ of A. cliilo — showing what excellent use the field 

 naturalist makes of his trained eye, when he comes to work in the 

 Museum. 



Many of the species of the genus show extreme variability, and it 

 is a pleasure to note the careful judgment shown in dealing with such 

 species. We are accustomed to consider all Acraeae as unpalatable in 

 all their stages, but the author records that some of their larva) are 

 subject to attacks from Dipterous parasites in spite of that fact. In 

 dealing with the species A. acrita the author draws attention to the 

 variability of the genital armature. This is exceedingly interesting 

 and helps to confirm his view that it is " on the verge of becoming 

 divided into several different species." The fact that the armature 

 is highly complicated, as stated, no doubt opens the door to slight 

 modifications, but ai the same time proves that the species is going 

 through a critical period in its evolution, especially when we consider 

 its very numerous forms and geographical races. We understand that 

 the whole of the genital preparations and all the coloured figures, many 

 of which we have had the pleasure of examining, are the work of Mr. 

 Eltringham's own hands. The beauty of the preparations and the 

 equal beauty of the drawings, both prove the author to be as able a 

 microscopist as he is an artist, a combination by no means always met 

 with. We admit a feeling of relief and satisfaction that the genus 

 Arraca has not been split up into sub-genera, for reading between the 

 lines we are inclined to imagine that a temptation was laid in the way 

 to induce this action, and we congratulate the author that he resisted 

 it. When a large group like this falls entirely naturally into one 

 genus, so that even a " tyro " can recognise it at a glance, it is worse 

 than waste of time to sub-divide it into colour sections or otherwise, 

 simply for the sake of reducing the size of the genus, and we are glad 

 that this was not done. We are equally relieved at another point 

 made. It is stated under the species A. servona, that " the naming of 

 forms on the variation of black spots is carrying nomenclature to 

 excess." We heartily agree with this sentiment and would like to 

 underscore it many times, but, as it is, a large number of forms and 

 variations have been named by the author, and if he had acted 

 contrary to the paragraph just quoted the monograph would certainly 

 have been half as large again and might have been perhaps discounted 

 in its value in proportion. 



The list of types with their location, the bibliography and the index 

 of specific names, all add to the value of the work from the point of 

 view of the systematist. 



The chromo-lithography of the plates is careful and good, though 

 it by no means brings out the delicacy of touch and colour of the 

 artist's original figures ; we are glad to have drawings of some closely- 

 allied species, and especially are we pleased to see a good figure of 

 donbledai/i a^hout which there has been much uncertainty, but we should 

 have liked to have seen oncaea beside it for comparison. The figures 

 o[ the genital armature are models of clearness, and if mere definition 

 of outline and shape are the points aimed at, are certamly better than 

 photography, though, for other reasons, we prefer the latter. Mr. 

 Lamborn's figures of the larvae of certain species are a welcome 

 addition to our knowledge of the early stages of the group, and we look 

 for much more from that accurate and gifted observer. 



