304 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



REVIEW. 



Handbook of Euroinan Butterflies. By W. F. De Vismes Kane, 

 M.A., M.E.I.A. Fifteen plates and 184 pages, 8vo. London: 

 Macmillan & Co. 1885. 



This small volume forms a very welcome adjunct to Dr. 

 Lang's ' Butterflies of Europe.' The latter book is too valuable 

 and bulky to be used as a vade mecum by the entomologist when 

 travelling on the Continent ; but Mr. Kane's book exactly fulfils 

 the necessary conditions. 



There are 15 plates, containing 134 figures, done by a photo- 

 graphic process; partly, it would appear, by the Typo-Etching 

 Company, and partly by the employment of the isochromatic 

 plates prepared by Messrs. Attout Tailfer and John Clayton, of 

 Paris. Of course this mode of illustration reproduces the 

 irregularities of the setting, and all the defects of the specimen 

 figured ; but, on the other hand, there can be no dispute as to 

 the faithfulness of the representations. Some of the plates are 

 excellent, notably plates vii., xi., xiii., and xiv. The genera 

 Argynnis and Melitcea appear to have presented considerable 

 difiiculties in the delineation of the upper sides ; but even in 

 these instances the under sides figured in plate x. are very 

 characteristic. 



The introduction is pleasant reading; and Mr. Kane gives 

 clear directions as to the apparatus necessary for taking and 

 bringing home a collection of butterflies in a small compass. He 

 recommends placing them in the usual triangular envelope, of 

 which a figure is given. There is another plan, which he does 

 not mention, viz., placing them in pill-boxes, with a disk of paper 

 between each flat specimen. 



The letterpress of the body of the work is well written ; and 

 the key to the different genera will prove of great assistance to 

 the beginner. 



The "List of European Rhopalocera, with their principal 

 Synonyms," has been prepared with great care ; and it is much 

 to be hoped that it will be issued separately, printed on one side 

 of the paper, to serve the purpose of labels. 



Mr. Kane may be congratulated in having supplied a distinct 

 want. 



