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62
REVIEWS
Vol.11: nos.1-3
There has been no inquiry into questions of higher classification and the book follows Seitz in these matters: a reflection on the poor state of our knowledge of butterfly classification. In several places the results are unfortunate, though of comparatively small significance; in the Lycaenidae however, there are numerous serious errors of grouping. The Liphyridae (whatever rank one may wish to accord it) is a natural group, but its members are here widely scattered: Miletus, Allothius, and Logania in the "Miletinae" (erroneously stated to be peculiar to the Oriental region, for the African Megalopalpus is a close relative) ; Spalgis and Taraka (near relatives of the American Feniseca) in the "Lycseninae"; and Liphyra in the Liphyrinae. Farther, the blues and coppers are united into a single subfamily, since the copper genus, Heliophorus (the only regional representative of the group) is placed in writh the blues. Hypochrysops, a true thecline, is likewise grouped with the blues.
I should have preferred to see the synonymic list and the list of annotations which follows it incorporated into the text, though there may have been technical reasons against this. The three separate indices, however, should certainly have been combined into one.
Barring the few difficulties discussed here, and one or two other small points, the book is a magnificent and obviously very painstaking piece of work. And not only the reviewer but also his readers should bear in mind that it is far easier to criticize a work such as this than it is to prepare one!
The book is clearly intended for, and will be most used by, those directly interested in the butterflies of Malaysia. It is, nonetheless, of such competence and so full of a variety of facts hard to find elsewhere that it is heartily recommended to anyone interested in the broader aspects of butterfly study, no matter where he may live or what the scope of his collection might be.
Harry K. Clench, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh 13, Penna., U.S.A.
FALTER BEI TAG UND NACHT. AUS DEM LEBEN UNSERER SCHMETTER-LINGE. Text by Manfred Koch, pictures by Kurt Herschel. 288 pp., 132 foto-repro-ductions. 1953. Publisher — Neumann Verlag, Radebeul und Berlin, Germany. [Price, 12 DM.]
The excellent and beautiful reproductions show various European Lepidoptera and caterpillars, all taken free in nature. The captivating text narrates in literary but, however, scientific language the rich experiences the author has to tell from his numerous collecting trips. Every entomologist will enjoy running through these pictures from time to time and can find a stimulus for his own foto essays.
J. C. E. Riotte, P. P., 278 Bathurst St., Toronto, CANADA
WIR BESTJMMEN SCHMETTERLINGE. PART I, TAGFALTER DEUTSCH-LANDS (unter Ausschluss der Alpengebiete). By Manfred Koch. 119 pp., 16 col. pis. 1954. Publisher — Neumann Verlag, Radebeul und Berlin, Germany. [Price, 7.80 D.M.] This small book has important hints for all kinds of lepidopterological activities on the first 66 pages. Then it gives a table of the species, arranged so that it is easy to find for each species the name, locality, when to find the caterpillar, then the imago, what the caterpillar feeds on} abundance, remarks (sometimes very interesting). Then follow indices and 13 colored plates of 14-0 species, all from color-slides, very lively and natural, where necessary above and beneath, arranged like a collection, and this is new and surprising, in horizontal lines, species after species according to the system used by Seitz and giving thus an excellent arrangement for studying relationships and making comparisons. I think it is the first time the subject has been presented in that manner. Then follow 3 colored plates with the caterpillars of the 140 species and most of the pupae, in the same exceptionally good reproduction. Only 119 pages, but all the important things are said. There will be second and third parts dealing with the Heterocera.
J. C. E. Riotte, P. P., 278 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ont., CANADA