Customer Reviews

Butterflies of Britain & Europe (Collins Field Guide)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best field guide to European butterflies and not just by default. Although there is currently no other decent European field guide to butterflies, this has undoubtedly set the standard for many years to come.

All 440 species of Europe and North Africa are fully described and illustrated with male and females depicted and - where there is significant variation - subspecies.

The text itself is accurate, concise and oriented at the field observer. A monochrome thumbnail map accompanies the detailed range / distribution section. Under "Description", it is heartening to see comparative comments rather than a re-hashing of what can be seen on the plates - something that used to occur often in field guides. Habitat is described in great detail. Life history includes a list of larval food plants.

The 104 plates do not accompany the text, but are found together in the centre of the book. They are, of course, superb. Extremely lifelike, wonderfully helpful for identification and pleasing to the eye, they are everything we have come to expect from Richard Lewington's brush.

This is a "must have" for anyone travelling to Europe and no British naturalist will want to be without it either. In 1970, Higgins & Riley were the pioneers. This book is the worthy successor to that groundbreaking first guide, taking the art of identification to even higher levels.

This book has over 500 pages, about half of it is drawn pictures of butterflies (Rhopalocera). Each plate has a load full of butterflies, drawn in ground and side plan. Along with species there are possible forms or subspecies. The families are organized from Papilionidae to Hisperiidae. Quality paper, hard cover which is useful, due to common use out in the field. Along with a picture there is a portion of text for each species. The author gives information on range, distribution, variations, flight-period, habitat, life-history, conservation, behaviour, food plants... A map of Europe marked with distribution. Useful to hobbyist or a professional alike. Highly recommended.