The Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada

Abstract

THIS is perhaps the most remarkable work on butterflies which has ever been published; and though it has some features which cannot meet with universal approval, it will make a mark in entomological literature which cannot fail to influence future writings. It has, as the author tells us in his prospectus, been twenty years in preparation, of which eight have been entirely given up to it, and embodies thirty-five years of experience in the field, as well as an immense deal of literary research. The result is certainly a work of which, notwithstanding its defects, both the author and his countrymen may well be proud; and considering that it is published at the sole cost and risk of Mr. Scudder himself, who informs me that a sale of 350 copies is necessary before the cost of production can be repaid, it is to be hoped that scientific societies and entomologists in all parts of the world will support his arduous undertaking by subscribing to it The work is a large quarto, and will be completed in twelve monthly parts, each containing eight plates, coloured and plain, and about 144 pages of text. Of the plates, seventeen are to be devoted to butterflies, six to their eggs, eleven to caterpillars, two to the nests of caterpillars, three to chrysalides, two to parasites, thirty-three to structural details, nineteen will be maps and groups of maps, illustrating the geographical distribution of butterflies, and three are portraits of early American naturalists,—in all, about 2000 figures on ninety-six plates, together with over 1700 pages of letterpress. Considering that both letterpress and plates are of a high character—the chromolithographs by Sinclair and Son, of Philadelphia, being the best I have ever seen, and far superior in detail, fineness, and accuracy to many hand-coloured plates—and that the uncoloured plates are often of microscopical details which require the greatest care and accuracy, I do not think that the price, which is 5 dollars a part, or 50 dollars for the entire work if the whole is paid before January 1, 1889, is too high; though it will certainly place the book beyond the means of many who would wish to possess it. When complete, which will probably be in the course of the next year, the work will only be sold bound in three volumes at 75 dollars, so there is a decided advantage to early subscribers.

The Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada, with Special Reference to New England.

By Samuel H. Scudder. Part 1. (Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Published by the Author, 1888.)

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