228 Bibliographical Notices. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



South-African Butterjlies : a Monnqrapli of the Extra-tropical 

 Species. By Rol.vnd Trimen, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c. 

 Eoyal 8vo, Triibner and Co. 



It is with great pleasure that we welcome the appearance of the 

 first two volumes of this work, the need for which will be evident 

 from the fact that not only has the earlier work by the same author 

 (entitled ' llhopalocera Africse Australis ') been long out of print, 

 but our knowledge of African butterflies has been very greatly 

 increased during the twenty-one years which have elapsed since 

 the publication of that monograph. Mr. Trimen points out that 

 the total of known South-African forms is at the present time 

 about 380, whereas in 1866 (allowing for erroneous admissions to 

 the list) only 197 natives of South Africa were recorded. 



The present wgrk commences with a most instructive Introduc- 

 tory Chapter, inValuable to students commencing the study of the 

 llhopalocera ; the whole of the families, genera, and species are also 

 described at considerable length and with the care and precision for 

 which Mr. Trimen is remarkable ; the notes which accompany the 

 descriptions are useful and of interest, whilst at the same time they 

 are free from all those sneering little cuts which too frequently 

 mar the waitings of lepidopterists. 



Volume I., containing the family NT?MPHALiDiE, is illustrated by 

 six chromo- lithographic and one plain plate, the latter being devoted 

 to the structural features of butterflies and the others to figui'es of 

 the larvae and perfect insects ; this volume is also accompanied by a 

 useful map of South Africa. 



Vol. II., containing the Eeycinidje and LTCJ:NiDiE, is illustrated 

 by three coloured plates ; and although chromo-lithography is hardly 

 80 well suited to the representation of the smaller species as hand- 

 colouring, the figures are on the whole decidedly good. 



Vol. III. remains to be issued, and will contain the Papilionid.ts 

 and Hespeeid^, which Mr. Trimen estimates at about 142 species. 

 It will probably be a bulky volume, and if, as may be anticipated, 

 Lt is as perfect as its predecessors, the work will bo one of the most 

 complete monographs of butterflies hitherto offered to the public. 



Bergens Museum Aarsheretaing for 1886. 8vo. Bergen : 

 John Grieg, 1887. 



The Annual Report of the progress of the Museum at Bergen for 

 1886, which made its appearance towards the close of last year, 

 forms a volume of considerably larger sixe than usual. It contains 

 in all 288 pages and 24 plates, twelve of the latter of quarto size. 

 Of coiirse the ordinary reports upon the additions to the Museum 

 and its Library and the affairs of the establishment generally occupy 

 but a small portion of the space, most of which is devoted to the 

 publication of several memoirs of great value and interest. 



