A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BUTTERFLIES OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE. By Lionel G. Higgins and Norman D. Riley. Completely revised with additional illustrations.

(1970) 1980 4th edition. Small 8vo (130 x 200mm). Pp384. Colour paintings by Brian Hargreaves throughout, butterfly paintings to end-papers. Pictorial laminated boards.

"With every species described and illustrated. Over 800 colour paintings by Brian Hargreaves". "Here for the first time is a comprehensive guide to european butterflies, illustrated throughout in colour. The book covers every species and important subspecies of form - in Europe west of the Russian frontier, in western North Africa, in Madeira, the Canaries and the Azores. There is also an excellent introduction to the whole subject; a glossary, check-list, selective bibliography and index. The superb colour plates illustrate at life size and in fine detail over 800 butterflies - the 381 species of the area and every important subspecies, sex and brood form. In each figure the left-hand part shows the upperside, the right-hand part the underside. Opposite each plate is a caption-page, giving notes for identification and a page-reference to the text description. [The end-papers] together provide a visual key to the contents of the book. By illustrating characteristic butterflies within each Family, each with its plate reference, they lead you straight to the group of plates withing which you will find your species illustrated". A distribution map is also included for each species. A classic in its field.