THE WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
7 
REVIEWS OF BOOKS. 
A Natural History of British 
Moths. By E. 0. Morris, B. A. 
London : Longman & Co., Paternos- 
ter Bow. 
"We have just had the pleasure of 
looking over some of the pages, con- 
taining figures of Noctuhs, which are 
to appear in the above work. They 
are not coloured, hut seem, so far, to 
have been executed in the highest 
style of art, and well sustain the rep- 
utation which the work has already 
gained among Entomologists. 
At various periods in the History 
of Entomology, works have been 
brought out, professing, by coloured 
figures, to facilitate the identification 
of species. We have compared the 
one under notice with several of these, 
and it comes out from the trial un- 
scathed. 
In most of these publications, al- 
though the larger species may be per- 
fectly figured, the smaller ones become 
more and more indistinct, and, in 
attempting to equal the colours of 
nature, the mistake is made, of sup- 
posing that their beauty consists in 
brightness alone. Mr. Morris’ artist, 
seems to have steered clear of these 
difficulties. The parts containing the 
plates of LARENTiDiE, for instance, 
are marvels of corrrcctness and elabor- 
ation, and, as far as is possible, would 
enable collectors to discover the names 
of insects belonging to that group. — 
Even in the genus Eupithecia, — that 
“ bugbear ” of beginners, — all but the 
most closely allied species are easily 
recognisable, and these latter, we 
know, puzzle even the “savants,'" 
although aided by real specimens. 
If there is a fault in the figures 
we must look for it in the earlier 
numbers, and there, we fancy, we can 
detect here and there a slight flaw. 
It is however but slight, and con- 
sists in one or two figures being, if we 
may use the term, too much elabora- 
ted. 
It is hard to find fault with such 
a production as this, and it is, perhaps, 
on that account that we have been 
tempted to try to find one. 
We should, however state, that we 
believe the labours of different artists 
are now employed from those who 
prepared the earlier plates, and, from 
the glance we have been permitted at 
the forth coming parts, we think they 
could not be surpassed in skill. 
We have said nothing yet, of the 
letter-press. Perhaps we shall refer 
to it at a future time. Meanwhile, 
we cordially recommend the publica- 
tion to our readers. 
As the number of subscribers to 
the Entomologist is at present, not 
large, it is earnestly requested that 
those who kindly give their support 
will endeavour to increase its circula- 
tion by any means in their power. 
Subscribers will please consider the 
receipt of the first number of the En- 
tomologist as an acknowledgement 
that their subscriptions have been 
received. 
Notices to Correspondents. 
J. C. D. — It will be some time be- 
fore we can answer your questions 
about the Diptera. 
