of entomology. The number of British Butterflies, however, is so limited that a place has been found for a figure and a description of every species; and, of the larger moths, many of the common and typical kinds have been included. An introduction to the study of the Micro-lepidoptera has also been added.
No trouble has been spared to render this work thoroughly practical. In addition to the verbal descriptions of so many species, twelve coloured plates and a large number of woodcuts have been specially prepared to help the student in his work. It is believed that the extreme care with which these have been produced will render them of the greatest assistance to the collector in the recognition of his specimens.
But he has not only to recognise his specimens—he must first catch them; and here full directions have been given to insure success in this part of his work, as well as in the management, preservation, and arrangement of his captures.
The Author hopes that this volume may be the means of adding many happy hours—hours of the purest enjoyment—to the lives of those whom he has succeeded in luring into the fields and lanes and woods of the Out-door World.
CONTENTS
| PART I | ||
| STRUCTURE AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE LEPIDOPTERA | ||
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I. | GENERAL CHARACTERS | [1] |
| II. | THE EGG | [16] |
| III. | THE LARVA | [22] |
| IV. | THE PUPA OR CHRYSALIS | [44] |
| V. | CLASSIFICATION OF THE LEPIDOPTERA | [55] |
| PART II | ||
| WORK AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD | ||
| VI. | CATCHING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS | [63] |
| VII. | COLLECTING OVA, LARVÆ, AND PUPÆ | [98] |
| VIII. | REARING LEPIDOPTERA | [112] |
| IX. | SETTING AND PRESERVING | [122] |
| X. | PRESERVING OVA, LARVÆ AND PUPÆ | [130] |
| XI. | THE CABINET—ARRANGEMENT OF SPECIMENS | [134] |
| PART III | ||
| BRITISH BUTTERFLIES | ||
| XII. | THE SWALLOW-TAIL AND THE 'WHITES' | [139] |
| XIII. | THE FRITILLARIES, VANESSAS, AND THE PURPLE EMPEROR | [154] |
| XIV. | THE BROWNS AND HEATHS | [173] |
| XV. | THE HAIRSTREAKS, COPPERS AND BLUES | [183] |
| XVI. | THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE SKIPPERS | [196] |
| PART IV | ||
| COMMON BRITISH MOTHS | ||
| XVII. | SPHINGES | [203] |
| XVIII. | BOMBYCES | [217] |
| XIX. | THE NOCTUÆ | [239] |
| XX. | GEOMETRÆ | [268] |
| XXI. | THE MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA | [290] |
| APPENDICES | ||
| I. | COMPLETE CLASSIFIED LIST OF BRITISH MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA | [309] |
| II. | THE LEPIDOPTERIST'S CALENDAR | [326] |
| References To Coloured Plates | [347] | |
| Index | [351] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
COLOURED PLATES