66 
REVIEWS. 
particularly in the drawing, which is, in some instances, highly effective. 
The colouring is more variable, often evincing great carelessness and want 
of finish— e.g ., the nerves of the wings in Pieris brassicse and rapse are 
actually coloured a rather strong blue, with a greenish hue from the ground¬ 
colour of the wings being yellowish. And even Aporia cratasgi is decorated 
with blue lines between the black veins, which greatly injures the effect. 
The ground-colour of the anterior wings of Vanessa io is much more of a 
brick red than the magnificent “ rich, dark, brownish red” mentioned in 
the text. To the Apaturairis no brush can do any justice; but more might, 
we think, have been suggested to an entomological student’s mind than Mr. 
Morris has succeeded in doing; no one, however, ought to be severe on 
failure where success is so impossible. On the other hand, many of the 
figures of the Hipparchise and some others are coloured with a most happy 
general effect, as is, we think, the upper side of the Vanessa C. album. 
On the whole, the figures are very creditable. 
At the end of the book are given very elaborate and particular instruc¬ 
tions in the arts of catching, killing, setting, and preserving insects, which 
will be found very useful and intelligible by the most inexperienced. 
Figures are given of all the instruments required, the mode of setting, the 
store-boxes, drying-case, and all the manifold impediments which this pur¬ 
suit entails on its votaries. An engraving of the cabinet is promised, but, 
for some reason, does not appear. The clap-net is the favourite with our 
author; but we must say we cannot agree in the preference ; it has always 
seemed to us vastly inferior to a good bag-net, as being much more un¬ 
wieldy and less fitted to secure the captured insects. But, every man to 
his taste. With regard to the best mode of killing insects, we are glad to 
see that he gives the chloroform bottle a place among the ordinary essen¬ 
tials for a lepidopterist: most assuredly it ought to supersede every other 
method of ancient or modern invention. Why, in some places, he speaks 
favourably of the 11 lucifer-match” method, we cannot tell. It is only fit 
to be forgotten. The instructions given are admirable in the main, and 
will be found amply sufficient for all purposes. 
And here our notice of this book, so far as it is a “ History of British 
Butterflies,” may be considered to end. To the scientific entomologist it 
will be probably of comparatively little assistance; but to the uninitiated, 
or the simple catcher of butterflies, it will be a considerable acquisition; 
while the general good temper and friendliness which pervade the whole 
must dispose every one to feel kindly and cordially towards the enthusiastic 
and Christian author. A few words must, nevertheless, be added on what 
£eems to us to be the great defect in the book—viz., the vast quantity of 
