436 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Catalogue of the Arctiadce (Arctiame) and Agaristidce in the 

 Collection of the British Museum. By Sir George F. 

 Hampson, Bart. Published by the Trustees of the British 

 Museum. 



This forms volume iii. of the great monographic Catalogue 

 of the Lepidoptera Phalsense, and is something more than its 

 title implies, being not confined altogether to the species contained 

 in the National Collection, but embracing all others known and 

 recorded. The present volume is a bulky one, containing 690 

 pages, and the descriptions of 1171 species, with synoptical keys 

 to, as well as descriptions of, genera and species. It completes 

 the Arctiadce, and also fully deals with the small family Agaristidce 

 of day-flying habits. To produce such volumes annually is no 

 small task, and the author may be congratulated on maintaining 

 his standard of thoroughness throughout. 



There can be little doubt that a standard of nomenclature 

 must for long appertain to these volumes. The examination 

 and comparison of genera and species has been so extensive as 

 to command respect, even from those whose descriptions have 

 been treated as of a synonymical character only, the author 

 having shown a healthy spirit of conservatism in classificatory 

 details, and having written with the courage of his convictions. 



A fresh departure seems to have been taken in the spelling of 

 some generic and specific names, to which publicity should be 

 given, as the course will probably occasion considerable com- 

 ment. We find "valkeri" substituted for "walkeri," " vestvoodi" 

 for ** westwoodi," and other similar changes. This is a scho- 

 lastic question which will probably result in divergent opinion, 

 and need not be discussed here. 



We certainly feel a spirit of gratitude as we peruse these 

 pages of condensation and analysis ; they make the study of a 

 difficult subject a matter of surmountability, and render the 

 classification and recognition of a large concourse of living 

 creatures an easy undertaking for any serious student. Besides 

 the numerous illustrations incorporated in the text, nineteen 

 beautifully coloured plates are given in a separate form. 



