BUTTERFLIES. By E.B. Ford. Collins New Naturalist No. 1. 1945 First edition.

1945 1st edition. Large 8vo (150 x 222mm). Pxiv,368. Colour and b/w plates, illustrations, maps, glossary and bibliography. Green cloth.

The very first New Naturalist title". All known British butterflies shown life-size in colour. 56 colour photographs of living specimens by S. Beaufoy". "There are many books on British butterflies but none on their general biology.. ..nor is there one which uses them as a theme upon which to base discussions of the many remarkable problems which they present. This gap in the literature I have now attempted to fill. It has always appeared to me that evolution is the key-note of biological study and research; consequently, while as far as possible avoiding over-emphasisd, I have allowed that point of view somewhat to influence the construction of this book. Taking a variety of problems, relating to structure, the senses, classification, habits, distribution, means of dispersal, and genetics, I have, as it were, adjested them so as to converge upon the last three chapters which are all concerned, directly or indirectly, with evolution". The author also discusses the history of the study of the Lepidoptera at the beginning of the book, and the origin of the British butterflies as a group at the end of the book. Chapters include: The history of British butterfly collecting; The structure and development of butterflies; The senses and colours of butterflies; The principles of classification; Habits and protective devices; Relations with other insects; Distribution; Dispersal; Theoretical genetics; Practical genetics and breeding; Genetic interactions; Evolution; The races and sub-species of British butterflies; The origin of the British butterfly fauna. Appendices include a list of scientific and English names, and maps showing the distribution of certain butterflies in the British Isles. New Naturalist No. 1.