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Volume 45, Number 4
379
What is the point of a study like Reissinger's today? To ask this question is to miss the point. Publication of this study in a sense marks the end of an era, the era when a dedicated amateur like Reissinger could expect to rival the "pros" in sophisticated studies of variation, evolution or systematics. Work like this was already largely out of date several decades ago; now it is virtually a curiosity—both theory and technique have long ago passed it by. This is sad. It does not mean the amateur can no longer make valuable contributions to science, but it does force a redefinition of what those might be. Superb morphological and life-history work is still being done by amateurs, for example. The early stages of much of the world's lepidopteran fauna remain undescribed at a technical level. This kind of work requires a degree of sophistication, but no expensive equipment or statistical arcana. Perhaps the future of amateur contributions lies in the collaboration of amateurs and "pros" in addressing questions of mutual interest.
Eduard Reissinger died on 16 July 1991 at the age of 71. His close collaborator Ulf Eitschberger has written a moving obituary (Atalanta 22:ii-ix, 1991) which is equally the obituary of an era. I wish that Reissinger had published his magnum opus much earlier, but it will stand as a monument to one man's dedication to one bug. Ave atque vae.
Arthur M. Shapiro, Department of Zoology and Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616.
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 45(4), 1991, 379-380
Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona, by Richard A. Bailowitz and James P. Brock; photographs by Charles A. Hedgcock (Foreword by Gale Monson). 1991. Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., P.O. Box 5624, Tucson, Arizona 85703. ix + 342 pp., with 4 color plates, 3 figures (including two regional maps), and 624 black-and-white photographs covering all species. Soft cover, 15.2 x 22.9 cm, ISBN 0-9626629-0-9. $29.95 ( + $3.00 shipping).
Review by Clifford D. Ferris
Arizona boasts a broad diversity of life zones and habitats spread over its 15 counties. Much of its area is relatively arid, but lush meadows occur in coniferous forest in the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim country of the central and northeastern portions of the state. The southeastern portion of the state, the region covered by this book, is generally Sonoran desert interspersed with a variety of mountain ranges generally aligned with north-south orientation. Coniferous forest is found at the higher elevations in many of these ranges, whereas riparian canyons with unique flora and fauna exist at their bases. In some localities, one may pass through five ecological life zones when climbing from the desert floor to a mountain summit. Consequently, more than 240 butterfly species have been recorded from the six counties represented in this book. Many of these species are endemic, while others are Mexican migrants that occur with some regularity, and some species are single-specimen records.
Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc. (SASI) was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization devoted exclusively to educating the public about arthropods and their interrelations with other animals, plants, and humans. Located in Tucson, Arizona, SASI operates the Arthropod Discovery Center in Tucson Mountain Park. A newsletter and quarterly magazine are published for SASI members, but Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona is the organization's first publication for a wide audience.
380
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
This book is divided into three parts following the prefatory matter. The Forward, by Gale Monson, is followed by an authors' Preface. Part 1 provides information on observing butterflies in southeastern Arizona, the topography of the region, and the systematics/ nomenclature used in the book. The nomenclature used generally follows that recommended in Memoirs 2 and 3 of the Lepidopterists' Society (one deviation is the use of Limenitis in place of Basilarchia). A list of abbreviations used in the book concludes Part 1. Part 2 contains the species accounts, in the order of the 1981 Miller and Brown check list (Memoir No. 2), starting with the Hesperiidae and ending with the Nymphalidae, which is broadly interpreted to include the satyrids, danaids, and heliconiids. Each species is represented by life-size black-and-white photographs; in most cases, both the dorsal and ventral surfaces are shown. In some instances, both sexes are illustrated when sexual dimorphism occurs. Generally speaking, the black-and-white photographs are good. The exception is in the Pieridae section, in which the species with indistinct wing borders (many of the Coliadinae in particular) are poorly reproduced. The wing borders tend to blend into the background. In my copy of the book, certain photographs (in the skippers especially) appear to be slightly out of focus, but it is not clear if this is a problem with the original photographs or an artifact of printing. On the plus side, it is nice to have a book that clearly illustrates some of the problem Amblyscirtes (such as elissa, prenda, eos, and nereus) and the enigmatic Cogia mysie (also figured in color). Generally, specimens in good condition are illustrated, with damaged examples portraying only casual species and rare strays. The species descriptions are limited to general comments but include information on larval foodplants, flight period, and distribution. Part 3 consists of a series of appendices, which include the four color plates (illustrating 90 specimens), explanation of the black-and-white photographs (listed in order by Miller and Brown check list number), the collecting policy of the Lepidopterists' Society, resource organizations, references, an index to larval foodplants, and an index to butterflies. The four color plates are quite good and depict 90 species at less than life size.
This book is an invaluable field guide for any collector who has visited or plans to visit southeastern Arizona and contiguous regions. Although the geographic area covered by the book is restricted, many of the species discussed and illustrated are found in neighboring northern Mexico, southern New Mexico, and west Texas. Consequently, this book can be used effectively as a field guide over a much wider geographic area than the title implies.
Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona is attractively produced on acid free coated white paper with sewn signatures. The cover (with a superb color photograph of Thessalia theona thekla in the field) is plastic coated heavy paper, and should prove reasonably durable. This book should be on the shelf of any lepidopterist who has a serious interest in the butterflies of the southwestern United States. I recommend it highly.
Clifford D. Ferris, Bioengineering Program, University of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3295 University Station, Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3295.
Journal of the Lepidopterists Society 45(4), 1991, 380-381
Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona, by Richard A. Bailowitz and James P. Brock; photographs by Charles A. Hedgcock (Foreword by Gale Monson). 1991. Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., P.O. Box 5624, Tucson, Arizona 85703. ix + 342 pp., with 4 color plates, 3 figures (including two regional maps), and 624 black-and-white photographs covering all species. Soft cover, 15.2 x 22.9 cm, ISBN 0-9626629-0-9. $29.95 ( + $3.00 shipping).
Additional Comments by Ray E. Stanford
I feel qualified to comment on this important publication because I have known and corresponded with the authors for many years, have been in the field with them on several