572 



m 



"REVIEW. 



THE MACKOLEPIDOPTERA OF THE WORLD. 



edited by 



Dr. a. Seitz. 



Vol. I. — Pal^aktic Rhopalocepa. Vol. IX. — Indo-Australian 

 Rhopaloceea (part) London, Williams and Nokgate, 1908-1913, 



In 1906 Dr. Adalbert Seitz of Frankfort commenced the heroic task of 

 publishing a comprehensive work on the macrolepidoptera of the world in 

 collaboration with the best known entomologists. His aims were conciseness, 

 a low price, as far as possible a figure of every form and finally rapidity of 

 publication. 



The work is divided into two main divisions, viz., Fauna Palsearctica and 

 Exotica. Fauna Exotica is further sub-divided into three sections, viz., 

 Fauna Americana, Indo-Austalica and Africana. Division I and each 

 section of Division II are each being issued in four volumes, viz., S/iopa- 

 locera, Spliingidce and Bombycid(S, Noctuidce, Oeometridcs . A volume on 

 morphology, etc., is to follow. Thus the work will be completed in 17 

 volumes, each 13" X 10". It is being issued in parts, each part ordina- 

 rily containing 8 pages of letterpress and 2 plates ; the price per part of 

 Division I is one shilling and of Division II one and six pence. It is 

 stated that Division I and each section of Division II will each contain 100 

 parts, but this estimate is likely to be exceeded. Students of the macro- 

 lepidoptera of India will require the whole of the Fauna Paleearctica (Div. 

 I) and section II, Fauna Indo-Australica of Div. II. 



Volume I, Rhopalocera Palsearctica, was commenced in October 1906 

 and com.pleted in January 1910 in 47 parts. It contains 380 pages of text 

 and 89 plates. The authors are Dr. Seitz for Papilios, Danaincs, most 

 of the Safyrince, Arginnis, Melitoia, Nemeobidce and Lyccenidce ; H. 

 Stichel for Parnassius, Mojphidce and most of the Nymi^halidce ; J. Rober 

 for the PieridcB ; G. Eifiinger for Erehia; and P. Mabille for the Hes- 

 periidcB. 



Of Volume IX., Rhopalocera Indo-Australica, the first number appeared 

 in May 1908, but the second did not follow until two years later. Since 

 then publication has been rapid ; 88 parts containing 704 pages of letter- 

 press and 139 plates have been published dealing with the Papilonidce, 

 Pieridce, Danaince, Satyrince, Moiphince and most of the Nymphalidce. 

 Except for the Papilios, which have been written up by Dr. K. Jordan, the 

 remainder of the work has been dealt with by H. Fruhstorfer. 



The " Macrolepidoptera of the World " does not profess to be an ex- 

 haustive treatise, but a concise book of reference for all the named species 

 and races and, with the aid of the plates, it affords a rapid means of identi- 

 fication. The general arrangement does not differ from what we are all 

 used to. The race system is, however, elaborated ; this is a more rational 

 treatment than that adopted by Moore, Swinhoe, etc., and its further 

 elaboration may be looked for in the future. For ready reference the 

 name of the genus is given at the top of every page and the names of the 

 various species, races, etc., in the margin. Concise descriptions are given 

 of the families, genera, species, etc.. and of the earlier stages, were known, 

 the idea being that with so many figures long detailed descriptions are 

 unnecessary. One could have wished for more detail, but this would of 

 course have increased the size of the work. There are no long lists of 



