40 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



tropical butterflies as small and dull-coloured as the most inconspicuous 

 of our own, but the Indian representatives of European or Japanese 

 species are often much inferior to the latter in both size and beauty." 



Mr. Kirby makes a special feature in this book of Classifica- 

 tion : he discusses and compares in detail the various methods 

 and systems, giving his reasons for his own particular view in 

 each instance. It makes one wish for the day when one permanent 

 nomenclature shall be universally adopted. 



One cannot help a feeling of regret that a more detailed 

 description of the habits of the insects is impossible, owing 

 to want of space; but the author has succeeded in getting a 

 considerable amount of information into the book. A note- 

 worthy feature of the work is that the author gives the origin of 

 names and terms when of any interest; thus the Glanville 

 Fritillary is said to have been named after Lady Glanville of 

 Glanvilles Wootton, in Dorsetshire, where the insect was first 

 taken. 



The Plates, which are copious, are also a feature of the 

 book, and as a whole answer their purpose, and are fairly true 

 to nature. Some are not up to the standard of the majority — 

 i. e. Plates XXXIII. and XXXIV. are not to be compared with 

 that of Apatura iris, which is excellent. The numbering of 

 Plate I. is obviously not in keeping with the text. All the English 

 species so far treated of, including the Nymphalinai (Argynnis, 

 Vanessa, Melitcea, &c), Apatura, and Satyrina, are figured, and 

 in addition to the types of genera there are a few plates of 

 recently described and hitherto unfigured foreign butterflies. We 

 cannot help regretting that room is not found for a plate of that 

 important and extremely interesting butterfly Araschnia levana 

 in its various stages, which surely deserves a place. 



Many woodcuts of varieties, under- sides, pupae, &c, are also 

 given. 



We cannot take leave of this book without expressing our 

 admiration of the clear and concise method of arrangement 

 throughout. The book is printed in an attractive style, and 

 should find many readers both amongst beginners and also 

 amongst more advanced students of Entomology. 



