328 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



" distinguishing characteristics " are presented in a novel manner, and 

 form a most vahiable aid to the ready identification of specimens, 

 which will be much appreciated. They have been carefully worked 

 out, and are evidently the result of original study (in most cases) of a 

 long series of specimens, and of a habit of minute and accurate obser- 

 vation. Sometimes these " Dist. Char." might perhaps have been 

 made more clear and convincing, if a fuller general description of the 

 species had preceded them. Next follows a list of " localities," which 

 in nearly all instances is very full, precise, and up to date. Under 

 the head "Directions of Variation " we have another excellently per- 

 formed piece of worli, which indirectly, to some extent, makes up for 

 the omission of a full description of the types. Mr. Wheeler has 

 partly avoided the modern craze to exaggerate trifles, and to exalt the 

 inevitable differences between almost every individual of many species 

 to the dignity of named varieties. 



His method is to mention the " directions of variation " in colours, 

 markings, &c., and to tell us how each of these culminates in such and 

 such named varieties. Many new and most interesting varieties are 

 described by him for the first time, and many more for the first time 

 in English. Yet among the '■ blues " we notice at least two omissions 

 which surprise us. Is it possible that the beautiful blue form of 

 female Ilusticus [Lyccena) an/us, L. {agon, Schiff. ), known to us as ab. 

 Corsica, does not occur in the Central Alps ? Again, under Polyommatus 

 {Lyccena) corydon there is no mention of corydonius, unless he has 

 nicluded such forms under ab. pallida, Tutt. Mr. F. Eosa mentions 

 corydonius from Pfyn, July, 1900 (Entom. xxxv. 96), and other captures 

 have been recorded. The author has always the courage of his opinions, 

 and runs a tilt against one or two notable lepidopterists in the matter 

 of classification and nomenclature. He has abandoned the claim of 

 berisali, Riihl [berisalensis, Fav.), to rank as a species, in favour of making 

 it a variety of M. dcione, and merged alcyone, Schiff. as a var. of Satyrus 

 hermione ; separated S. cordula from actaa and Anthocharis simplonia 

 from A. belia. He also refuses var. ausonia a place among the in- 

 habitants of the Valais. Probably it will be proved that he is justified 

 in all these points, but it would have been interesting to have had his 

 reasons for the position he assigns to Libythca celtis. We should not 

 have regarded hedges and copses as the haunt of Neptis lucilla, but 

 perhaps it is as true as the old superstition of "chestnut forests " being 

 the peculiar habitat of this species. Mr. Wheeler has, however, given us 

 a trustworthy aud original book, for the making of which he has had 

 the special qualification afforded by long residence in Switzerland, and 

 the advantage of the friendship and assistance of both English and 

 Swiss entomologists of repute, whose help he most handsomely 

 acknowledges. All collectors will appreciate the " Geographical Index 

 of Localities " with which the book concludes. 



Obituary. — We regret to hear that Dr. Philip Brookes Mason, of 

 Burton-on-Trent, died on Nov. 5th last. 



WEST, NEWMAN AND CO., PRINTERS, HAITON GARDEN, LONDON, E.G. 



Je'08 



