REVIEWS. 299 
tinue to follow the antiquated arrangement of Guenée in placing them 
beside the Geometre. 
Much yet requires to be done, before even an approximate natural 
classification of the Moths shall have been arrived at; and extensive 
and numerous changes must, naturally, precede this desirable result. 
Hence we anticipate that many genera, and possibly even families, now 
included among the Sphinges and Bombyces, will eventually be 
shifted into different positions. There remains, probably, also, much 
to be done in eliminating synonyms. 
How far Mr. Kirby is correct in placing the true Sphingide between 
the Notodontide and Bombycida, instead of at the head of the series, 
remains to be seen. It may interest British entomologists to note that 
Endromis versicolor is here put into the small family Bombycide, with 
Bombyx mori and its allies. 
Part of the preface is taken up with Mr. Kirby’s exposition of the 
rules which he has followed re the vexed question of nomenclature, on 
which we fear opinion will long remain divided. 
Notwithstanding the occasional errors unavoidable in a work of 
such dimensions (and it is only fair to the author to say that in 
glancing through the book we have noticed none of any importance), 
the extreme usefulness of a work such as the one before us, to all 
students of Lepidoptera, cannot be over-estimated. 
According to the scheme announced in the preface, the work is to 
be completed in five volumes:—I. Sphinges and Bombyces. II. 
Noctusw. III. Geometre and Pyrales. IV. Micro-Lepidoptera. V. 
Appendix, up to date, and general index of genera and species. 
We learn, also, from the same source, that the remainder of the 
work is in an advanced state, but even so, considering the expense of 
publication and the time required to prepare so large a mass of 
material for the press, we fear that some years must elapse before this 
Catalogue can be completed. 
Rhopalocera Exotica; being Descriptions of new, rare, and unfigured 
Species of Butterflies. By H. Grose Suire & W. F. Kirsy. 
Vol. I.; with 60 hand-coloured plates. 4to. London: Gurney 
& Jackson. 18871892. 
For many years Hewitson’s great collection of Lepidoptera, now 
in the British Museum, remained unequalled in the world, and its 
treasures were illustrated by him in his well-known beautiful works, 
‘Exotic Butterflies, and ‘Illustrations of Diurnal Lepidoptera.’ 
Since his death, large collections of butterflies have continued to be 
received from all parts of the world, and two of his surviving friends 
have undertaken the present work, in order to present the scientific 
world with a series of illustrations of rare and beautiful species 
(chiefly selected from the rich collection of Mr. Grose Smith), in a 
style nearly uniform with Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies.’ 
Certain alterations will be noticed in the arrangement of the book; 
thus, instead of the letterpress belonging to each plate being limited 
to a single unpaged leaf, it is allowed to extend to as great a length as 
is necessary to fully describe all the species figured. Again, the pagi- 
nation is made consecutive throughout each separate genus, or at least 
family, illustrated. 
