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1964
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
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241
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BOOK REVIEW
OUR BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. By William H. Howe. True Color Publishing Co., North Kansas City, Mo. 208 pp, including 25 colored plates and 70 black and white text figs. Cloth, $15.00.
In the preface, Mr. Howe, who is a widely known artist and amateur lepidopterist, gives a two-fold purpose for this book: a hope of stimulatÂing interest in butterflies and moths among young people and to enable a better use of his water color paintings for the public. To these ends the book should prove successful.
Certainly many of the figures are good; the paintings are undoubtedly the best in accuracy of both color and structural detail to have been published for some of the species. A few have somewhat exaggerated brightness, but most are truly excellent. Some 125 species of butterflies and larger moths are shown in the 25 colored plates in addition to the many black and white drawings of other species, caterpillars, chrysalids, butterfly traps, etc. Species from various parts of the world are included; thus no geographical fauna is treated fully and there is not marked tendency towards illustration of the Kansas species in particular (as there is in the text). About 44 species of North American butterflies and 27 species of North American moths are pictured in color; the remainder are South American and Old World representatives, primarily butterflies.
Curiously, the four plates depicting Nearctic Heterocera are numbered 22 through 25 but occur in the book between plates 13 and 14. It appears that both Hemileuca (Pseudohazis) hera (Harris) (pi. 23) and H. eglanterina (Bdv.) (pi. 7) are figured under the species name eglanterina. In nearly every case the moths and butterflies are shown in study specimen, spread condition, although they are depicted in various arrangements superimposed on floral or scenic backgrounds in an attempt to make them appear more life-like. The combination is bothersome.
As understated in the publisher's letter accompanying advertisments for the book, "This is no complicated scientific monograph". The highly simplified text is written in a wordy, anecdotal, and at times flowery manner, often including repetitive phraseology. Nonetheless, it should be understandable and informative as well as stimulating to the layman. Several sections take the reader on armchair field trips or give accounts of Howe's experiences in widely scattered parts of the country. Narrated in a conversational fashion, these should quicken the pulse of confirmed collectors and entertain anyone interested in natural history; they inÂclude imaginary or idealistic expeditions to Florida, New Mexico, Colorado, and Mexico for butterflies, an evening collecting sphinx
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242 Book Review: Our Butterflies and Moths Vol.18: no.4
moths, and still another copy of Holland's "Sugaring for Moths", revised to accomodate local species. Other reports of the author's personal experiences mainly concern Kansas localities and often include mention of his acquaintances.
Separate chapters treat the families of butterflies, sphinx moths, and silkmoths. These are not comparable in scope, varying from short natural histories of several representative species (Papilionidae) to collection methods (Lycaenidae) or Howe's memorable recollections of individual species (Satyridae). The chapter on silkmoths includes an historical sketch of Bombyx and gives almost no information on Saturniidae. Interspersed are numerous and varied fragments of entomological folklore, poems, and historical episodes, many of which are interesting or amusing but which do not add materially to the study of Lepidoptera.
Experienced Lepidopterists will for the most be little informed by the folksy, first person text which includes an annoying number of out-of-date generic combinations (e.g., Megathymns neumoegeni, Hyloicus for perelegans and other Sphinx, Telea polyphemus, Samia for rubra and other Hyalophora) and misspelled names (e.g., Abdomin, p. 25; Celerio linneata, pp. 88, 141; Colias alexandria, p. 66; Hyloicus cheris, p. 141). In addition, there is varying recognition of subspecific names. For example, both Celastrina argiolus and C. pseudargiolus are mentioned; either the subspecific or the specific name is omitted in some cases, while in others the geographical meaning of the subspecies is ignored or misinterpreted (e.g., "Phoebis sennae eubule is widely distributed . . . even on the West Coast", p. 65). Entomologists should be alarmed if not horrified by some of the oversimplified or erronous generalizations: "Colias eurytheme . . . never becomes so common as to be a serious pest to an alfalfa grower." (p. 64); The Monarch does not have "to worry about the attack of birds or other animals; . . . thanks to its acrid odor." (p. 72); Glaucopsyche xerces "was first reported to have vanished in 1908, an event that was likely hastened by the San Francisco fire." (p. 120); "Professional lepidopterists are too busy in museums with assigned duties to ever get outside and actually catch butterflies!" (p. 133)!
However, persons of all ages who are interested in natural history will find many fascinating and enlightening passages in the book. Sections such as the Colorado butterfly collecting guide should be of value to young beginning collectors and veterans alike. The color figures themselves will make the book usable for almost anyone interested in butterflies and moths.
Jerry A. Powell, University of California, Berkeley.
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