THE AURELIAN LEGACY
British Butterflies and Their Collectors

2000, 432 pages, 42 color plates, 162 b/w illustrations. This entertaining and informative book traces the history of butterfly collection in Britain from the seventeenth century, when the study of natural history had its beginnings. It includes brief biographies and portraits of 101 deceased lepidopterists, a short history of butterfly collecting in Britain and of the equipment used, accounts of selected species of historical interest, and conservation efforts. Appendixes list British and Irish butterflies with their earlier, often confusing, and sometimes fanciful vernacular names, and provide a chronological record of entomological societies, publications, and events.

Laced with anecdotes and quotations, this book provides a fascinating account of the men and women who have made valuable contributions to our knowledge of British butterflies and of their early and often complex history. It is not only a good read but also an excellent reference source for current and future lepidopterists. Hardcover; 8-1/2 x 11″.