46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
sentation of all the species dealt with by colour photography, chiefly 
from the actual specimens. The merits of these plates it would be 
difficult to exaggerate, although two or three seem a little out of 
focus, and in one the colours have escaped exact superposition. 
The Plusias may perhaps be selected for special notice. Whether 
anyone who had never seen a Plusia would realize from the plates 
that certain portions of the wings shine metallically may be difficult 
to decide, but those who cannot place themselves in that untutored 
attitude will see almost the insects themselves, with their silver, 
bronze, or gold markings. Those from drawings by Mr. Knight, e.g. 
the frontispiece (Pl. 1), leave nothing to be desired; between these, 
however, and those photographed directly from the insect there is the 
difference that here every blemish in the specimen is eliminated, 
whilst in the others every injury and defect is faithfully recorded, as, 
for example, one sees that the specimen of P. bractea was not 
in so fine condition as some of the others. This, from our point 
of view, so far from being a blemish, is an unquestionable certificate 
of truthfulness to nature, since it shows the specimen as it is, 
and not as we or the artist, possibly erroneously, may think it ought 
to be. 
One might have liked more of the admirable photographs in the 
text by Mr. Lucas and Mr. Main, altogether twenty or twenty-four, 
if we include those on the covers, as they illustrate, by what are often 
beautiful pictures, interesting points, such as natural attitudes, means 
of concealment, &c. 
It would perhaps be unkind to enlarge again on our objections to 
the unfortunate adoption of English names. Not perhaps always 
unfortunate, as who can help failing to find some amusement in such 
names as ‘The Silver Hook,” ‘‘The Dark Spinach,” ‘The Slender- 
striped Rufous,” or ‘The Brussels Lace” ? : 
The plain plates of earlier stages are somewhat unequal, some 
very good, some less so—all useful to give the beginner some idea of 
the egg, larva, or pupa of the particular species, or of the group to 
which it belongs. 
Perhaps we ought to note that the latest addition to the British 
Macros, 4. achillee, is figured and noticed, as well as the new and 
interesting dark var. of H. autwmnaria just discovered by Mr. L. W. 
Newman ; so that the work is quite up to date. 
We notice few errata; that in the legend on Pl. 77 is obvious, and 
will mislead no one. The reference to the early stages of H. autwm- 
narta is erroneous both in text and index. 
We have looked for as many faults as possible, possibly from envy 
that such an excellent and complete guide, at so low a price, affords 
the tyro such help as was not to be obtained in our early days, even 
from an expensive library—an assistance that will last him until he 
begins to specialize in some direction or other. Probably it is 
necessary, now that entomology affords so many wide fields for 
study, that the early stages should be made so easy, and capable, 
therefore, of being rapidly mastered. 
Such samplings of the text as we have made show Mr. South to 
have that command of his subject with which we all credit him, and 
