46 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Of only two species, therefore, A. Lathonia and P. Acis, has Mr Buckler done 

 nothing towards their life history, and when we say that by far the largest 

 proportion of the species have been reared from the egg, the work done will be 

 better appreciated. It remains but to speak of the figures themselves. Those 

 who have seen any of Mr. Buckler's coloured drawings know with what ex- 

 treme beauty of finish and correctness of detail they were done. The figures 

 in the present volume fully realise our expectations, and in number consi- 

 derably exceed what we looked for. The preface says " those who know any- 

 thing of such work, will appreciate the difficulty sometimes felt by our en- 

 graver, in reproducing colour drawings, without the help of the instructions of 

 the artist who made them." We can only say that, in our opinion, we con- 

 sider Mr. Moore has succeeded admirably. 



Those of our readers who are interested in nomenclature, will be glad to 

 know that the German names are not adopted in this volume. 



We will take future opportunity of calling attention to many interesting 

 portions of the volume, and next month will give our readers a descriptive 

 account of Mr. Buckler's collection of Lepidoptera, chiefly bred from the 

 larvae figured. This collection is for sale, and ought to be the property of 

 some public body. 



NOTES ON THE SEASON OF 1885. 



By G. A. LEWCOCK * 



A correspondent, recently writing to me respecting some works on Cole- 

 optera, said, " I have made a large collection during a thirteen years residence 

 in India ; the insects at present are only grouped in families, whether I shall 

 ever be able to reduce them to genera I don't know, but species seems hope- 

 less." It was in this dilemma that application was made to me, and in reply 

 I imparted such information as was in my power. 



Now it has occurred to me since this correspondence, that there are many 

 persons similarly situated, and that it would be of advantage to many of us, 

 and especially to those who from want of time and opportunity are unable to 

 obtain insects of the orders of Entomology in which they are interested, if 

 we could devote a little time to the relation of our entomological experiences 

 of the past season. Speaking of my own experience, in former years, when 

 first I took up with Coleoptera, I found it rather difficult to proceed, as the 

 directions generally given for procuring the different species of beetles were 

 rather indefinite, and left you somewhat to your own devices as to the mode 



•KRead at the meeting of the Haggerston Entomological Society Feb. nth, 1886. 



