Excerpts from Reviews
Amateur
Entomologists’ Society (UK)
December 1999, Volume 58 (427), pp. 228-229
“Great attention [has been] paid to
the layout of the text and choice of fonts …”
“The quality of the plates is of a
very high standard …”
“I think this would be a very
valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in Neotropical butterflies
and essential reading for any lepidopterist intending to visit Venezuela or
neighbouring countries. It is aimed fairly and squarely at the reader who wants
to identify butterflies and learn more about their ecology. I feel it is this
wealth of textual information, more than any other factor, which really
attracted me to the book.”
“This work must have been an enormous
undertaking and in it Andrew Neild’s passion for butterflies really shines
through. We have a lot to look forward to.”
Chris Raper
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American Scientist (USA)
September-October
1997, Volume 85, pp. 477-478
"Finally someone has combined motivation, ability, enthusiasm and
resources to start a first-rate series on the butterflies of Venezuela. Although
steeped in a deeply Victorian style, youthful exuberance and modern scholarship
shine through Andrew Neild's first volume. Miraculously this books manages to
chart a course through the murky waters of amateur showcase butterfly
collecting, the pedestrain picture-name-picture-name treatments and the often
deadly chloroform of serious science. The result is not only pleasing to the eye
and useful to serious students of butterflies, but is readable into the
bargain."
"[The species accounts] show a thorough scholarly respect for a widely
scattered, multilingual literature, and thus are of lasting value to students of
neotropical butterflies. Bravo! A job well done."
"The user is presented with a truly beautiful set of color plates that
were photographed by none other than the current master, Bernard D'Abrera. By
illustrating multiple specimens per species, the plates not only facilitate
correct identifications, but thay also make the identification process a
distinct pleasure.
"In summary, this well-done book provides a much-needed stimulus for more
detailed work on butterflies of Venezuela and elsewhere in South America. It
deserves to be on the shelves of everyone interested in butterflies. The author
is to be congratulated not only for breathing new life into the study of
Venezuelan butterflies, but also for showing his roots which are deeply anchored
in tradition. I look forward to seeing the subsequent volumes in print."
Phil DeVries
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Annals of the Entomological Society of America
(USA)
September 1997, Volume 90, no. 5, pp. 701-702.
"This is a magnificent book. This is a superb book. Nothing more needs to
be said, but I doubt that the review editor would accept a review which is
shorter than a book's title."
"[The plates] are invariably excellent ..."
"The color fidelity of the printing is excellent and the use of page space
maximised."
"The book more than serves its purpose as an identification guide and goes
far beyond."
"Neild's work is magnificent and superb, user friendly, and worth its
cost. As such, it serves as an excellent model for future regional
treatises."
"Finally, there is an obvious need for a comparison between this and
DeVries' book (1987. The Butterflies of Costa Rica and their Natural History,
Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae. Princeton University Press, Princeton),
the first to treat a significant portion of a Neotropical butterfly fauna. The
two are very different in their emphasis. Where DeVries' forte is life history
and behavior, Neild's is taxonomy and identification. Both are excellent
references and a DeVries and Neild collaboration, with each contributing his own
expertise, would surpass magnificent and superb; it would be just short of
awesome."
George T. Austin
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Antenna (Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society)
(UK)
April 1997, Volume 21(2), pp. 80-81
"The series should appeal to a wide audience. Apart from Bernard
D'Abrera's monumental series, only Phil DeVries' Butterflies of Costa Rica is
really comparable. But the scope of Neild's work is much wider than simply
identification. In many ways it will surely come to to represent another highly
significant step, particularly for those involved in butterfly diversity in the
Neotropics who must still be striving without the sort of basic tool that this
volume provides. Perhaps its greatest value will be in stimulating others, both
in Venezuela where much still remains to be elucidated in the local butterfly
fauna, and as a model for workers in other neotropical countries."
"In some ways The Butterflies of Venezuela is quite audacious - as a jump
into the proverbial deep end by an inexperienced author it can have few
parallels. That it succeeds so remarkably is a tribute to the author's personal
knowledge and vision, and a cautionary lesson to those of us who after thirty
years professionally studying butterflies now see neither the wood nor the
trees!"
Phil Ackery
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Bulletin de la Société
Entomologique de France (France)
1997, Volume 102(3) :
264
« C’est un travail
d’explorateur, de naturaliste passionné, épris du Venezuela. Je dis souvent que
les derniers explorateurs sont les systématiciens, car s’il n’y a plus d’îles a
découvrir, combien de recoins de la biosphère restent absolument vierges de
toute investigation scientifique et regorgent d’organismes inconnus. C’est donc
un travail de pionnier, destiné a tout public avide de nature tropical et
émerveillé par la beauté des papillons néotropicaux. C’est un ouvrage très
soigné, fruit des efforts avisés de l’auteur qui a su s’entourer des meilleurs
spécialistes et des compétences qualifiées pour réaliser son projet.
»
Jacques Pierre
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Butterflies
(Magazine of the Butterfly Society of Japan) (Japan)
1998, Volume
20, p. 64
This Japanese review was kindly translated for me by the talented Colombian linguist Juan Manuel Cardona (juanmanuel.cardonagranda@gmail.com), author of the Glosario Multilingüe de Terminología Forestal (Multilingual Glossary of Forestry Terminology) in Spanish, English, French, Portuguese and Japanese (ISBN 9583389889).
An
unprecedented color guide by the Englishman Andrew Neild on the native
butterflies of Venezuela. One of the best of the few illustrated
butterfly guides for South America published so far.
The
author, Andrew Neild, only 31 years old, who just married this last
June, is already an accomplished and earnest individual. We can’t
help but commend such a promising young man who has been kind enough to
craft this monumental work for us.
The
plates, being of neotropical butterflies are of course dazzling.
Besides, the Nymphalidae rank among the most gorgeous of butterfly
families. Species accounts include distribution, subspecies,
identification clues, behavior, diet, etc., and all are extremely
detailed. Bibliographic references are also deep and well researched,
thus becoming an excellent source of information on Central and South
American Butterflies.
The work surpasses most world standards for a guide.
Motomu Teshirogi
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Butterfly Conservation News
(UK)
Autumn 1997, Number 66, p. 28
"Members planning trips to the New World tropics might like to know about
... this fine book ... [which] will certainly enhance their enjoyment of the
butterflies in Venezuela and surrounding countries."
Patrick Roper
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Lambillionea
(Belgium)
Supplement to II/97 (in French) and III/97 (in
English)
"The reader will appreciate, [throughout] the 32 colour plates, the
excellent quality of the 1195 figures."
"Amongst the vast amount of useful information can be cited the location
of the type material of all taxa and particularly of the 2 new species and the
23 new subspecies."
"This volume is very carefully edited. It has the advantage that it can be
used to study the fauna of adjacent countries and even that of the whole of
tropical America. Therefore this book should be present in all libraries, of
amateurs as well as specialists. The author should be encouraged to continue his
work to complete the three other volumes announced in this series."
Ronald Brabant
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Natura (Venezuela)
Volume 107, p. 66
"Se ilustran fotograficamente
y a todo color alrededor de 1200 especímenes (muchos de los cuales son tipos
primarios de los museos de Venezuela, Inglaterra, y Paris) en las brillantes 32
láminas preparadas especialmente por Bernard D'Abrera ... "
Around
1200 specimens (many of them primary types from museums in Venezuela, England,
and Paris), are figured with sumptuous colour photographs on the stunning 32
colour plates which were especially prepared by Bernard D'Abrera.
"En esta obra, tanto neófito
como entomólogo profesional encontrará la satisfacción de un lenguaje sencillo y
preciso ... y una cantidad de datos interesantes sobre la clasificación,
distribución y los hábitos de todas las mariposas venezolanas hasta ahora
registradas en las subfamilias Limenitidinae, Apaturinae y Charaxinae,
incluyendo la descripción de dos especies y 24 subespecies nuevas para la
ciencia."
In
this work both the neophyte and professional entomologist will be pleased to
find a text which is both straightforward and precise, ... and a plethora of
interesting information on classification, distribution and behaviour of all the
Venezuelan butterflies so far recorded in the subfamilies Limenitidinae,
Apaturinae y Charaxinae (and, moreover, the description of two species and 24
subspecies which are new to science).
"Esta obra ocupa un lugar
importante en la literatura zoológica venezolanista, no solo por su contenido
novedoso en si, sino por presentar al final la bibliografía completa que existe
sobre los temas tratados, de manera que aquel que quisiera profundizar algun
aspecto de la lepidopterología podria localizar rapidamente la referencia
pertinente."
This
work occupies an important niche in the Venezuelan zoological literature, not
just for its unique and informative content, but also for providing a full
bibliography for all the subjects treated, so that whoever wants to look into
some area of study in greater depth can rapidly locate the relevant
references.
Angel L. Viloria P.
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News of the
Lepidopterists' Society (USA)
Winter 1997, Volume 39(5), pp.
103-104
“Much of the text in the identification section
is of a revisionary nature, and readers will find a mine of information
regarding correct nomenclature and identification. IN this respect the notes and
plates for the complex species in the genera Adelpha and Memphis will be
especially helpful. Many related taxa that fly outside of Venezuela are also
discussed, thus ensuring that this work will benefit those working on the fauna
of other countries in the region.”
Boyce A. Drummond
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New York Entomological Society (USA)
1996, Volume 104(3-4), pp. 236-239
“This attractive book is the first of an
ambitious series of four parts …”
“Neild has done an admirable job combining
descriptions of adult butterflies and what is known of their behaviour and life
histories with the excellent colour plates …”
“While
not without its flaws [see note below – A.Neild], I think this is an attractive,
useful and generally well-executed book …[which] will be a helpful tool for
curating even large butterfly collections like those of the AMNH and NMNH. Given
the complexity of the neotropical butterfly fauna, and the extent of our
ignorance regarding its ssytematics and biogeography, Neild is to be
congratulated for attempting to match DeVries’ standard with a guide to a larger
and more diverse South American country.”
Andrew V. Z. Brower
Note: For the sake of fairness I should note
that the above were the favourable comments in this somewhat uncompromising
review. Andrew Brower certainly raises a number of important criticisms and
opinions. While some of these appear unreasonably subjective, others are fair
comment that reflect my own limitations and those posed by the scope and
circumstances of the work. The review is certainly thought provoking and caused
some controversy – Keith Willmott wrote a vigorous rebuttal of Brower’s
unwarranted comments on some of my taxonomic notes (see News of the
Lepidopterists' Society, Autumn 1998, Volume 40(4), pp.
92-93).
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SHILAP Revista de
Lepidopterología (Spain)
March 1997, Volume 25(97), p. 52.
"Damos una merecida bienvenida
a la calidad de la información sistemática y biogeográfica ofrecida en el primer
volumen de esta prometedora serie. El autor ha compilado elegantemente toda la
información disponible sobre mas de 270 especies y subespecies de ninfálidos
conocidos para Venezuela. El autor proporciona plenitud de nuevos datos
geográficos, ecológicos y generales de primera mano, basado en su propia
experiencia de campo en el pais, en el estudio de importantes colecciones
nacionales y foráneas, y en las multiples contribuciones de colegas venezolanos
que el autor ha tenido a bien acreditar sin reservas."
We
give a well-deserved welcome to the quality of the systematic and
biogeographical information presented in the first volume of this promising
series. The author has elegantly compiled all of the available information for
the more than 270 nymphalid species and subspecies recorded in Venezuela. The
author provides us with a plenitude of new geographical, ecological and general
data, based on his personal experience in the field, the most important national
and international collections, and the multiple contributions of Venezuelan
colleagues which he has had the good will to credit unreservedly.
"Por si fuera poco el trabajo
fotográfico de Bernard D'Abrera, complementa lo que siempre habriamos esperado
los lepidoptérologos suramericanos: una obra nivelada a la altura de la
modernidad que satisface las exigencias de aficionados y especialistas por igual
en cuanto su contenido y imagen."
Moreover,
the photographic work of Bernard D'Abrera complements what we South American
lepidopterologists have always hoped for: a work which reaches the highest ranks
of contemporary writing and which satisfies the demands of amateurs and
profesionals alike with its content and visual quality.
"Debo celebrar la publicación
...", "... una guia precisa ...", "... los apendices son todos indispensables
... ", "... bibliografía exhaustiva ... ", "... el nutrido cuerpo de este
trabajo ... luce tipográficamente impecable."
The
publication is praiseworthy ...; ... a detailed guide ... ; ... all of the
appendices are indispensable ... ; ... an exhaustive bibliography ... ; the
copious body of this work ... is outstanding for its impeccable
typography.
"Esta obra sentará precedente
en el estudio de la fauna neotropical y es, por la cantidad de nuevos taxa
descritos - dos especies y 24 subespecies - , y otras contribuciones relevantes
a la sistemática, obra indespensable en el ámbito científico."
This
work sets a precedent in the study of the Neotropical fauna and is, by virtue of
the number of newly described taxa - two species and 24 subspecies - , and the
other relevant systematic contributions, an indispensable work in the field of
scientific literature .
Angel L. Viloria P.
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Tropical
Lepidoptera (USA)
May 1997, Volume 8(1), p.
46.
A "long awaited and beautiful book", "clearly and concisely written".
"The main text is refreshingly well written."
"One of the great strengths of the book is that the author has spent an
immense amount of time trying to ensure the accuracy of the taxonomy and
nomenclature employed throughout, resolving many difficult problems in the
process, and in this respect the book is superior to all other Neotropical
butterfly works."
"The stunning front cover photgraph of the charaxine butterfly Prepona
praeneste gives the reader a forestaste of the superb quality of the 32 colour
plates .... "
"The Butterflies of Venezuela, Part 1, with its beautiful color plates and
notes on identification, will be of great assistance to all field lepidopterists
working in northern South America. In addition, the large amount of taxonomic
research incorporated within, and figures of many important type specimens, make
this work invaluable for all students of Neotropical butterfly systematics. We
eagerly await the remaining volumes in the series."
Keith R. Willmott and Jason P. W. Hall
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Yadoriga (Journal of the Lepidoterological Society of Japan)
(Japan)
1997, no. 173, pp.34-35.
This
Japanese article is more of a factual introduction than an
appraisal/review. It was kindly translated for me by the talented
Colombian linguist Juan Manuel Cardona (juanmanuel.cardonagranda@gmail.com), author of the Glosario Multilingüe de Terminología Forestal (Multilingual Glossary of Forestry Terminology) in Spanish, English, French, Portuguese and Japanese (ISBN 9583389889).
Even if it is perhaps impossible for a place like South America, it would be desirable to have a guide that:
· Has drawings of male and female forms of all the species in a particular area.
· Guides the user to identification through color and pattern
· Gives preference to depicting type specimens
· Has abbreviated species accounts of the current knowledge of each species.
Mr. Andrew Neild’s “Butterflies of Venezuela” is a
series that is just beginning to get published that can satisfy the
above ambitious hopes of both lepidopterophiles and regional museum
staff who have been regrettably deprived of guides for identifying
specimens from faraway lands where they have never set foot.
This book [is] a veritable vade-mecum for the reader.
Dr. K. Ueda
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