US 
October, 
Die Lepidopteren der ScnwEiz, von Professor Dr. Heinrich Fret. Leipzig, 
Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmanu, 1880. 8vo, 454 pp. 
The idea of this book conceived in 1849, “ in tlie sunny days ” of the author’s 
“youth” is now happily brought to a satisfactory completion. 
Switzerland has for long been the holiday ground for all European Nations, and 
of late years our pages have shown the increasing number of English Lepidopterists 
who have spent some happy hours in collecting there. Its varied aspects and the inex- 
pressible charm of its snow-mountains, with their brilliant Alpine Flora, offer a 
series of attractions, which those who have once experienced them will most readily 
admit are not easily resisted. 
Any one can pass through life without entering Switzerland, but he who has 
once been there is almost certain to return thither. 
The volume before us, very clearly printed (and on paper that it is an actual 
pleasure to touch), enumerates 2508 Swiss Lepidoplera, or if certain varieties (which 
by some are considered species) be included, the number will be raised to 2829. Like 
most of those, who have given their attention to the subject for any length of time, 
Professor Frey is disposed to extend his ideas of the limit s of species farther than is 
generally customary. “Der Artbogriff ist in dem Nachfolgenden weiter ausgedelmt, 
als es bisher boi den Lepidopterologen (namentlich den industriellen) iiblich ist.” 
Frey ’8 volume is not a descriptive work ; there are a few descriptions of new 
species and varieties, but the older, well-known species are simply mentioned by 
their long established names (the recent innovations introduced into the last edition 
of Staudinger’s Catalogue, being placed between brackets), and a reference is given 
to a figure of Hiibner, or Herrich-Schaffer, &c., thus, “ Hadena Polyodon, L. 
(Monoglvpha, Hufn.), (lib. 82).” 
The habits of the larva where known are given, and the months and special 
haunts of the imago ; then follow the actual localities in which the species has 
been noticed and by whom, and stress is laid on its range in elevation, so that w r e 
see at a glance the extent to which any species occurs in the Higher Alps. 
In a note at p. 2GG, we are reminded that the singular genus Acentropus , which 
can hardly fail to occur in such a well-watered country as Switzerland, has not yet 
been noticed there, although Reutti met with it on the Northern shores of the Lake 
of Constance. “But,” says Frey, “ who troubles himself there about such a small 
white thing.” 
It is remai’ked that none of the aquatic Pyralidce attain any great elevation. 
Frey never saw one of that group at an Alpine Lake. 
The introductory chapter, which speaks of the physical geography of Switzerland 
and its consequent wonderful varieties of climate within such short distances, ranging 
from the perpetual snow of the higher alps to Locarno on the shores of Lago 
Maggiore, where we have all the luxuriance of an Italian valley, is a fitting prelude 
to the work which follows. 
The distribution of plants is also touched upon. Then the author starts the 
question : “ Whence come the existing Lepidoptera of Switzerland ?” 
This is discussed through several pages, and then two other queries are pro- 
