108 Recent Literature. [ February, 
science, and they may congratulate themselves upon the selection of an 
historian who has not ignored the claims of other nations. 
Tue Ocrorus.! — This is a pleasant account of the Octopus or poulpe, 
adapted to the mind of the average visitor at the immense aquarial es- 
tablishments of the sea-ports of England, and perhaps worth reading on 
this side of the water, where poulpes — “ these blasphemies of creation 
against itself,” as Victor Hugo styles them — are common enough south- 
ward, but fashionable colossal aquaria are as yet lacking. 
Epwarps’s BUTTERFLIES or Norru America.2— The fourth part 
of the current series of this magnificent work, issued from the Riverside 
Press at the end of December last (but dated November), contains 
fewer subjects than usual, two whole plates being given to illustrate the 
history of Melitea Phaeton and Papilio brevicauda. The former plate 
is perfect as far as the colored figures are concerned, and cannot be sur- 
passed, if it can be equaled, by the best of foreign work ; but the plain 
lithograph of the web is not so satisfactory, showing in but few places 
any indication of the web-like structure. The other plates contain three 
species of Argynnis (A. Eurynome, Bischoffi, and Opis), and two of 
Grapta (G. Hylas and Marsyas). The text accompanying the three 
plates given to these insects is mainly descriptive, but contains some 
strictures on Mr. Scudder’s classification of these species of Grapta. 
he accounts of Phaeton and brevicauda, on the other hand, are very full, 
and are welcome additions to the history of our butterflies. That of 
the former is very nearly complete, but contains a few errors ; for in- 
t has long since been pointed out (Canadian Entomologist, March, 
1872) that this is not the case, the position of few or none of the spine- 
bearing eminences of the mature caterpillar corresponding with those of 
the previous hair-supporting tubercles. These are points of structure to 
which the author pays little attention, but which are very important in 
their bearing upon the affinities of butterflies. 
In writing that “ Phaeton alone, out of a hundred species of butterflies 
that frequent our fields,” protects itself in the larval stage “in a web 
woven by the community,” Mr. Edwards seems to be unaware that this 
is the case with every one of the tribe to which Phaeton belongs, as far 
! The Octopus, or the Devil Fish of Fiction and of Fact. By Henry Lee. With 
Papas London. 1875. 12mo, pp- 114; For sale by the Naturalist’s Agency, 
em. 
2 The Butterflies of North America. With Colored Drawings and Descriptions. 
By Wa. H. Epwarps. Boston: H. O. Houghton & Co. 4to. $2.50. 
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