Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-03-27
NEW BUTTERFLY BOOK.

DO you know DuLterHleS. II not, mere
is the opportunity Of at least getting
an Introduction to these bits OF
fancy on the wing" Bulletin No. 80,
of the university of Montana. Is con-
tribution to nature study just issued,
and like all similar publications. 1t Is
sent out gratuitously to all who apply
to the author or to the university ofh-
GERS. It is report on the butterflies
of Montana" with keys for the determ-
ination of species, beautifully illustrat-
ed with one colored plate, twelve full
page plates, and one hundred and
twenty-five figures. The work was pre-
pared to meet the needs of the younger
students Of nature, and it is dedicated
to the boys and girls who delight IN
roaming the hills or in following the
banks Of the streams. The purpose OF
the book is to assist teachers ana Oth-
ers in identifying specimens, and to
stimulate outdoor observation among
school students.
In the introduction, the author of the
work, Prof M. j. Elrod, suggests some
thing of the immense amount OF LABOR
and research involved in the prepara-
ton of such report. He says It is the
result of eight years of collecting ana
tabulating material. One can imagine
the hours and days spent in painstak-
ing examination of thousands of specl-
mems, minute descriptions, with care
full attention to the slightest detail OF
measurement and other variations.
Many days must be spent in field work,
collecting the specimens in every ac-
cessible locality, and in many places
new to the naturalist's prying eyes.
The writer knows somewhat Of the
many hours of labor given by Prof. Ell
rod to the preparation and examination
Of his material, in a work precludlng
the possibility of financial return, AMI
mated solely by desire to add some
thing to the fund of human knowledge.
The illustrations are all from reproduc-
tions of photographs made by the au-
thor and his assistants at the univers-
| ity. and this feature of the bulletin
| will make it an authority for years to
come. Several workers and collectors
have contributed to the extensive lot
| of material examined, to all Of whom
Prof. Elrod gives generous credit
The value of the book lies chiefly IN
| its disability by younger students
There are explicit directions for coll
| lecting and preserving specimens; ex-
| tended KEYS for the determination OF
species; careful descriptions of each
kind Of butterfly inhabiting or visiting
| the state, with accounts of the habits,
| distribution and other interesting
notes: and a clear, complete glossary
of terms used in butterfly description,
besides a list Of the literature consult
ed in the prepartion of the book. There
| is a literary side not common to similar
reports, for here and there are intro
duced supplementary articles, after the
style of DR.. Hollands famous Butter
fy Book" Among these we find poems
of butterfly fancies, collecting Butter
| flies at High Attitudes" and paper or
| interest on THE Seasonal Migration or
Anosia Plexippus," by Principal Maui
rice Kicker, Of the Burlington, Iowa,
| high school, describing an unusual ana
little known feature of butterfly life.
The bulletin is volume Of 10 pages
adm. as a whole. is a valuable and au-
thoritative contribution to our western
scientific literature. AS before stated
it can be had free of charge by apply
ing to Prof. M. J. Elrod, Department OF
Biology, University of Montana. MIS-
soula. The author would be pleased to
place a copy of the book IN the hanos
of every teacher and every working
student of biology in the state.