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 metalHcally 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. hractca 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 Eufous," 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, Z. achillecB, is figured and noticed, as well as the new and 

 interesting dark var. of E. autumnaria 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 E. autum- 

 naria 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, afi'ords 

 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 



