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Volume 33, Number 2
123
Schatz, E. 1885. Die Familien und Gattungen der Tagfalter. Lowensohn in
Fiirth (Bayern). Seitz, A. (Ed.). 1907-1924. Die Grossschmetterlinge der Erde. Vol. 5, Die
Amerikanishen Tagfalter. viii -f- 1141 p. Smart, P. 1975. The illustrated encyclopedia of the butterfly world. Salamander
Books Ltd., London. Stoll, C. 1782. De uitlandsche kapellen door den Heer P. Cramer. ----------. 1791. In Cramer Aanbangs werk uitlandsche kappellen (1782).
Journal of The Lepidopterists' Society 33(2), 1979, 123
BOOK REVIEW
Aberrations of British Butterflies, by A. D. A. Russwurm, 1978. E. W. Classey, Ltd., Park Road, Faringdon, Oxon., England SN7 7DR. 151 pp., including 40 plates. £12.50 (about $25.00 U.S.).
This is basically a non-technical book of illustrations with annotations. The first 61 pages consist of introductory notes and descriptions of the specimens that are figured in the plates. There are in excess of 300 individual specimens illustrated. Physically the book is well produced with a pleasing format—up to Classey's usual high standards.
Various types of aberrations are discussed in the Introduction, but their origins (genetic, environmental, etc.) are not. The book is basically a "picture book" of selected aberrant butterflies, without scientific basis. The author states, "Deformed or misshapen specimens and other abnormalities . . . are not attractive to the eye and spoil the appearance of any cabinet drawer or coloured plate. They are not illustrated here and we must assume that they belong to a more scientific approach than is claimed by this book."
The author is a fine illustrator and his watercolor renditions of the specimens are well executed and naturally colored. Some specimens are spread in museum fashion, while others are portrayed in natural poses. The spread specimens are shadowed along the right margins, as if being viewed in light coming from the upper left side of the page. I found this feature annoying as it tended to attract the eye away from the specimens.
Although they have no standing with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the author has supplied a "scientific" name and authority for each specimen, with a few exceptions. The exceptions are the use of "ab. nov." without further comment. Of interest is an aberration of Vanessa cardui, varini Meilhan, that is different from the usual North American aberration, elymi Rambur. I have in my collection a cardui aberration from southern New Mexico that is intermediate between these two forms.
One does question the reason behind producing a book such as this. It is more of an art book than a scientific book. Perhaps it can be justified on the basis that British lepidopterists have exhausted the more usual taxonomic frontiers. This work will probably have some appeal in England and in Europe, where collectors seem to be more interested in butterfly aberrations than do American collectors. I doubt that it will have much appeal in the U.S. because of the price and the limited geographic subject area.
Clifford D. Ferris, P.O. Box 3351 University Station, Laramie, Wyoming 82071.