80 August, 
Under this title Mr. Edwards, well known for his devotion to the study of the 
North American Diurnal Lepidoptera, of which he has the largest collection in 
existence, proposes to issue a series of coloured illustrations of all the species at 
present known, accompanied by descriptions and notes on geographical distribution; 
a work much wanted, since the number of described North American species has 
been doubled during the last few years ; the descriptions are scattered through 
various publications. The first part, which was issued in April of the present year, 
gives promise of great excellence, both as to the execution of the figures and the 
information contained in the text. 
In size and general appearance, the work resembles Hewitson's " Exotic 
Butterflies ; " but each part is to consist of five plates instead of three. The 
parts are to be issued quarterly, and the genera to follow in irregular order, not 
following any system of classification ; but a classified synopsis of all the species 
is promised as portion of the text, to be commenced with Part 3. 
With regard to the figures, it is not too much to say that thoy will bear com- 
parison with the best that have ever been given in iconographical works. They 
are correct in outline and drawing, and coloured with great truthfulness and 
sobriety ; the general efiect, too, is most pleasing and artistic ; in short, if illus- 
trated works of so much beauty and accuracy as this can be produced on the other 
side of the Atlantic, it behoves Natural History Iconographers in our old Europe 
to look to their laurels. 
The letter-press accompaniment to the plates is also remarkably well done. 
The synonymy is carefully and, so far as the work has proceeded, accurately worked 
out ; the closely-allied species luminously discriminated ; the descriptions good ; 
and the details of occurrence and distribution of the species full of interest. The 
text, in fact, forms pleasant reading. Under the head of one species, Argynnis 
Diana, the aflSnities of a fossil allied butterfly, found in the miocene beds of Croatia 
in Europe, the so-called Vanessa Pluto of Heer, are discussed ; the author giving his 
reasons for believing this to be an Argynnis allied to the somewhat anomalous 
North American A. Diana ; and hence deduces another fact in support of the 
hypothesis, that, in tertiary times, the organic pi-oductions of Europe and North 
America much more closely resembled each other than they do at present. 
The first part is devoted to the genus Argynnis; and most of the species 
have never before been figured. The second part is to consist, also, of Argynnis, 
with the addition of a new Apatura, and a number of new Colias. The third part 
will contain a continuation of Argynnis, and a number of previously unfigured 
Theclce, &c. 
No student of this beautiful and favourite tribe of insects will fail to obtain 
this interesting work ; and we hail its appearance as a true advance in the science 
of Entomology. M 
Entomological Society of London, 8th July, 1868. H. W. Bates, Esq., F.Z.S., 
President, in the Chair. 
Mr. Bond exhibited an extraordinary variety of Setina irrorella, from near 
Croydon ; it was very pale, with but few dots, but with a strong dark sub-terminal 
fascia: also a variety of Arctia villica, bred from a larva found at Wormwood 
