The Butterflies and Moths of Europe

Description:

First published 1903. Attractive decorative chromolithographed plates illustrating all life stages and foodplants. Includes species found in Madeira and the Canary Islands. Kirby was expressed his concerns about the conservation of butterflies, stating in the Preface “I wish to impress upon my readers that collecting is a means to an end, and it should never be practised wantonly, or as a mere amusement. It is a great pity to destroy more specimens than are actually required for study; and although many insects may become rare, or may be actually exterminated by natural causes, yet it is to be feared that in some cases the attacks of collectors have been responsible for the increasing rarity of various species (especially butterflies) which were not uncommon in England in former years”.

Condition

4to, cont. half leather, lightly rubbed, raised bands, gt tooling to bands, leather title piece. Lacks caption leaf to one plate, and two further caption leaves have some surface damage due to adhesion (but not affecting the plates themselves). Endpaper creased. Very good.