Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/Entomological Books for Beginners

by William Gabriel Blatch

Entomological Books for Beginners.

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By W. G. Blatch.

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Amongst the groat number of popular looks on Entomology very few are of real service to the student of that interesting science, and it to often happens that beginners expend a considerable amount of money uselessly and involve themselves in almost hopeless confusion, for want of a little friendly counsel to aid them in making, at the outset, a selection of the most suitable books. A few suggestions on this subject may therefore be not unacceptable to at least the younger Entomological readers of the "Midland Naturalist." As, however, it will be impossible to give in this number a list of all the best books on insects, I will limit this notice to two works on general Entomology, and to a few of such as illustrate some of the more prominent "Orders."

Undoubtedly there is no better book on general Entomology than "Westwood's Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects" 2 Vols., 1839. It is, however, hard to obtain, (being out of print,) and commands a high price, (£3 10s. is now charged for a fair copy,} but the book is necessary to all who desire not to be Entomologists in name only.

Not improbably the opportunity, and perhaps the money, to purchase "Westwood" may not be at once available. It will therefore be necessary to recommend some sort of a substitute. Here is one ready to hand—cheap, but good; easy to understand, but thoroughly trustworthy, and withal containing excellent coloured figures of insects of all "Orders,"—"Staveley's British Insects," Lovell Reeve, price 10s. 6d.

Then as to special books, beginning with the Coleoptera, the works of Mr. H. E. Cox and Mr. E. C. Rye are the only two that need be mentioned, Cox's "Handbook of the Coleoptera or Beetles of Great Britain and Ireland," (1874,) 2 vols., 17s. 6d. is indispensable. It is far from perfect, but is a great improvement upon previous guides to the study of British Beetles. The book is published by Mr. E. W. Janson, (himself a most accomplished Coleopterist.) at 28 Museum Street, Loudon.

"Rye's British Beetles" may be used advantageously as a sort of stepping-stone to "Cox." In a familiar, yet scientific style, the author opens up a veritable royal road to Beetle-knowledge. He has, in fact, succeeded in making his book both charming and useful. In addition to the chapters treating on the several families and genera of Beetles, it contains q glossary of technical terms, a systematic catalogue of British Coleoptera, and a number of nicely coloured plates. It is published by Lovell Reeve, price 10s. 6d.

A copy of Dr. Sharpe's "Catalogue of British Coleoptera," (published by Mr. E. W. Janson,) price 1s,, should also he obtained.

The Lepidopterist has a far better choice of hooks than the Coleopterist, there being a large number of excellent "Manuals" and "Histories" of British Butterflies and Moths in the market. I consider, however, that there is not a more accurate and useful work, in this branch of Entomology, than "Newman's Natural History of British Butterflies and Moths." The life-history of each species is described with careful minuteness, and every insect named is represented by an exquisitely drawn portrait, with the help of the description and figure there given. it is perfectly easy for the veriest type to recognise any particular butterfly or moth in his collection. The "Butterflies" and "Moths" are published separately, but can also be had bound together in one volume. The publisher is T. P. Newman, 32, Botolph Lane, Eastcheap, E.C., and the price is about 21s. for the two volumes.

I will conclude the present notes by recommending (in reply to a request that has been addressed to me) a cheap, easy, reliable book on "Bees". There exist several very valuable works on this subject, some of which may be specially referred to at a future time, but I do not know of one which answers the above description more fully than "Shuckard's British Bees," (Lovell Reeve, price 10s. 6d.) It is a small volume, but contains a large amount of trustworthy information about this most interesting section of the order Hymenoptera. A number of woodcuts of dissections, and sixteen beautifully-coloured steel plates, (containing about 100 figures,) greatly enhance the value of the book.

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