348 NOTES AND NEWS. 
THE 
LEPIDOPTERA OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 
The Lepidoptera of the — Islands. CuHas. G. BarReETT, F.E.S. 
Vol. I. L. Reeve & Co., London 
This volume, which 2 ee the whole of the British Butterflies, 
is composed of the first ten parts of the great work which 
Mr. Barrett has undertaken. As twenty-two years have elapsed 
since the appearance of Newman’s ‘British Butterflies and Moths,’ 
it goes without saying that such a work as this was absolutely 
needed ; indeed, considering the unparalleled advance which 
been made in our favourite science during that time, it ought to have 
been Saas: long ago. The volume completed is eminently 
satisfactory in most respects, and augurs well for future volumes on 
the Sphingide, Boutros } Noctuze, Geometree, Tortrices, and Tinez, 
orders in which the author will be not less at home than he has 
n among the Rhopalocera. The history of each butterfly, 
including its local and casual variation, is given in clear and full 
detail, and represented by coloured plates; but there is an entire 
and commendable absence of that stiff over-scientific method of 
dealing with the subject, so dear to mend of our entomologists who 
owe their knowledge more to dry museum specimens and books, © 
than to field work. We are glad ee that the author sticks so 
closely to the old nomenclature, and has not been tempted to adopt = 
_ the new fangled but altogether unnecessary names now so largely 
adopted by the younger school of British lepidopterists. As may 
be taken for granted with one of Messrs. Reeve’s publications, the 
_ paper is good, and the letterpress large, clear, and neat. 
_ adverse criticism we feel disposed to indulge in, is on account a eg 
the coloured plates: these are in some cases not so good as we 
should have liked to have seen them, and as we think, such a work 2 
warranted us to expect. Somehow, whilst everything else conn 2 
_ with publishing has made rapid advances, the colouring of a a : 
ents which ii is absolutely necessary to do justice to natura : 
history subjects, than they were twenty years ago. Every ee : 
___ terist who can afford the Beet Cae ales ad to be a subscriber 
