Maitland Emmet & Heath

[Rogerdodge]

Hi
I keep a careful look out on EBay for butterfly books - just in case a real gem appears.
Well, I spotted one today, but I already have it.
In my opinion this is a "must have" for any serious butterfly enthusiast.
Just copy and paste this number into the search box on EBay.co.uk.
170361896440
Good luck

[Dave McCormick]

I have this in hardback and its very good. When I got it, it was preowned and had this photo in it:


From what I know, it was taken around the time the book was published as there was two letters and a reciet for the book when it was new. I have not been able to find out who the person was that the letter was about as I can't read the writing well, but it stated about some butterfly observations. I don't want to give out anything personal online about this but one of the letters was written "Reading and District National History Society" headed paper.

I am also looking for the first book of these ones about micro moths, if anyone knows where I can get that (perefrribly hardback) I'd appreciate it s its one of the few (if only) that concerns UK Micro moths.

[Pete Eeles]

Couldn't agree more. I'm so sad, I have both a nice hardback, and a very worn softback!

So what do others think is essential reading? I'd have to include:

- Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (Thomas and Lewington). The best book ever written on the subject.
- Butterflies (E.B.Ford)

and, I hate to say it, "Natural History of British Butterflies" by Frohawk. My pair of volumes cost me over £200

I also really like:

- "The Aurelian" by Moses Harris.
- Notes and Views of the Purple Emperor (Heslop, Hyde and Stockley)
- The Millenium Atlas
- British and Irish Butterflies (Adrian Riley)

I also have a shedload of other books, but I don't consider them "essential"

Cheers,

- Pete

[Piers]

For me it would have to be (in no particular order)...

RHL Dennis's The Ecology of Butterflies in Britain together with British Butterflies: Their Origin and Establishment two essential works on British butterfly ecology.

Moths and Butterflies of GB & Ireland (although early volumes are up to 30 years old and very out of date).

Skinner's Moths of the British Isles The work to own on British Moths

Frohawk's Varieties, Complete Book of British Butterflies (for the aberrations) and Natural History of British Butterflies (mine are in dust wrappers Pete )

Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera - the new series from Apollo Books. Only volume 1 has been published so far but judging from that one it's going to be a stonking set!

Last but not least; my run of British Entomological & Natural History Society Journals pretty much complete from 1900, and set of New Naturalist's simply for the wealth of knowledge and information.

These would be my desert island books.

Felix.

[Dave McCormick]

I would have to say the top books I own are:

British and Irish Butterflies (Adrian Riley) - before I read this I did not know so much about subspecies, especially the grayling subspecies

British and Irish Pug Moths (Adrian Riley) - This is the book to have if you find it hard identifying pug moths. I got it because I kept finding these moths and not knowing what they were. Has plates and photos of all the pugs moths and information on each one. (can't recall from memory as I don't have book on hand) but I think there is even information on rearing the various pug moths from caterpillars as well.

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland - Paul Waring and Martin Townsend. The revised edition is very good and it does help a lot when identifying or finding out about moths. Before I read the book, I never new about form coneyi of cinnibar moth (Its wings are all pink with the lines and two dots on each wing being same pink as in normal adult. I have the revised edition. Someone I met in BC had the original version and I looked at it and decided to get the newer version because of that.

The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland - Robert Thompson and Brin Nelson. Living in Northern Ireland, its good to have such a book that can give good indication of all macro moths and butterflies tht live here, plus information on where they are usually found and dates. Even says how the photos were taken, what cameras and all were taken with monopod or tripod.

And I would have to say that all the published books of Maitland Emmet & Heath are very good, even for the age they are, especially the micro moth books as there is little enough on that subject as it is.