A GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF AUSTRALIAN BUITERFLIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 94

A GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF AUSTRALIAN BUITERFLIES.

By W. J. R-unbow, F.L.S., (F.E.S. Melbourne : T. C. Lothian. 3s 6d.

A (Reviewed by Drxoitxis.) During the last few years it has become very evident that the people of Australasia are developing a considerable amount of interest in natural history studies. The prominence given to such matters in one way or another in many elementary schools may be one cause of this general awakening, and' no doubt there are others. At any rate, the numerous books dealing with plant and animal life which have recently issued from the press in Australia and in New Zealand form proof positive of some kind of actual need for them. In the production of high-class popular books of this kind New Zealand has taken an unmistakable lead. So far nothing has been turned out on the other side to compare with the "Animal" book by Hutton and Drummond, or the "Plants," by Laing andi Blackwell, both of them published here within the last few years. Those, however, are costly, if popular, works, and it is greatly to the credit of both author and publisher that this "Guide to tlie Study of Australian Butterflies" should have been produced in a style so good and at a price so moderate. The fact that butterflies alone constitute the subject-matter, and that of these only one of tlie two sub-orders is dealt with, is favourable to the probabilities of relatively competent presentment. By those who know something of the existing literature of butterfly-collecting it will be readily admitted that the new "Guide" is a really efficient work, and one that has points of superiority over the general run of such manuals published elsewhere. Scientifically precise, without being severely 60, and illustrated on a truly liberal scale, it should prove an ideal aid towards the purpose intended. "The aim

of the writer has been to present to those i anxious to acquire some knowledge of ' the splendid butterfly fauna of Australia such a book as he himself would have been glad of when he first approached the study of the subject some yeara ago. Keeping this in mind, no previous knowledge on the part of the reader lias been presupposed." Nothing appears to have i been omitted that is needful to bo known of the thing to be observed, or of the most facile and simple methods of observing it. From the egg to the perfect insect ; from the sticking pins to the completed preparation, everything is figured with care: minute particulars are given upon the collecting, breeding, and mount- , ing of specimens,. The illustratione, in number about 300, are excellent in kind, the frontispiece of four butterflies, coloured to nature, and several of the fullpage plates being reallj fine examples of reproductive art. Descriptive passages, many of them quoted from the best Australian authorities, abound, and ehoxild prove both interesting and stimulative . reading to all budding naturalists. A great Seal of the knowledge commxcnica.ted j could be readily applied to study of New j Zealand species, aad, given the proclivity for observing and collecting, a compact little manual such as this one should prove usefully educative anywhere.