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Post by nomad on Jan 24, 2016 15:33:22 GMT
I know there are many Entomological books you may like but which are your favourite ones, I believe I started this thread on another forum and it went down very well and members that posted there might have new or others to add. It may be indispensable reference books from your young or later life. An exciting adventure or one you wrote yourself. A historical book, or one that is much loved. Which books would you choose and which mean the most to you. I look forward to hearing of members choices here.  |
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Post by africaone on Jan 24, 2016 16:47:24 GMT
" Mes chasses aux papillons" E. Le Moult The first I read where entomology is presented via the life of an uncommon guy . and earlier " Joyaux ailés" published by Hachette where I seen the first famous butterflies with stories attached (as the first catch of antimachus female), the only book we had in house on butterfly when I started. I know the names such as Morpho, lidderdalei, etc. from this book. |
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Post by nomad on Jan 24, 2016 16:58:35 GMT
I believe also that Michel, mentioned he would have most liked to have met the entomologist Eugene Le Moult. A very popular French entomologist, if I could read his book, I would have now now. A small wonder it has never been translated, it sounds a thrilling read.  |
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Post by africaone on Jan 24, 2016 17:06:02 GMT
I believe also that Michel, mentioned he would have most liked to have met the entomologist Eugene Le Moult. A very popular French entomologist, if I could read his book, I would have now now. A small wonder it has never been translated, it sounds a thrilling read. and unfortunetely, english books are also not available in French  |
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Post by wollastoni on Jan 24, 2016 17:14:14 GMT
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Post by deliasfanatic on Jan 24, 2016 17:50:16 GMT
Not strictly an entomological book, but Wallace's MALAY ARCHIPELAGO would be at or near the top. I've still not read Meek's book...on my list, but time to read it never seems to come up. I suppose my favourite strictly entomological book(s) would be BUTTERFLIES OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN ISLANDS, a series of several volumes published in Japan in the 1980s, by Tsukada and several other authors. The profusely illustrated plates are still the standard, especially for Nymphalidae; Papilionidae and Pieridae volumes are quite outdated now, but still invaluable. It's a pity that the series was never completed (Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, and a supplementary volume weren't published), and only the first two volumes have an English version. |
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klawfran3
New Aurelian
Posts: 16 
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by klawfran3 on Jan 24, 2016 18:26:58 GMT
I'm not sure if this counts but " Biology of Spiders" by Foelix Rainer. In depth, informative, easy to understand, and very well written. It is a staple in my bookshelf. |
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jhyatt
Aurelian
Posts: 224
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by jhyatt on Jan 24, 2016 19:50:04 GMT
I suppose my favorite books are the ones I return to every few years to re-read. My enjoyment in reading the following works never grows stale :
Wallace - "The Malay Archipelago" (Yes, it's not strictly entomological, but close enough for me!)
The trio of moth books by P. B. M. Allen: "Moths and Memories", "Leaves from a Moth-Hunter's Notebook", and "Talking of Moths"
Patrick Matthews' anthology, "The Pursuit of Moths and Butterflies"
H. W. Bates, "Naturalist on the River Amazon"
And a couple that discuss butterflies only in passing, but are so good and evoke such fond memories of collecting in South America that I must include them:
P. Matthiesson, "The Cloud Forest"
H. M. Tomlinson, "The Sea and the Jungle"
Finally, some that I don't include among my favorites: Meek, "Naturalist in Cannibal Land"; Longstaff, Butterfly Hunting in Many Lands", LeMoult, "Mes Chasses aux Papillons". The first two just don't seem to me to be written all that well, and the last is too much of a struggle for me to read, given my very rudimentary French.
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Post by nomad on Jan 24, 2016 20:45:30 GMT
I love Talbot's monograph and yours is very special, superbly bound with great covers, a real treasure to have. I manged to pick up a few part's of this monograph at Juvisy from a very nice entomological friend but I am still missing part's one and three. If I get all the those, I will have them bound like yours, just splendid. |
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Post by nomad on Jan 24, 2016 20:58:43 GMT
I guess my favourite book is Meek's ' A naturalist in Cannabal land '. Just like Wallace, Meek was one of the few collectors to mention the thrill and the names of those very special butterflies he discovered, I guess I have read this book more times that I care to remember. The first time in 1974. Its also a great adventure story, almost too painful to imagine in places.
I also much enjoyed the books about Margaret Fountaine, by far the best is Wild and Fearless.
I also love the Allan books, I have them all.
The Aurelian's Fireside Companion and The Aurelian Legacy and
Dear Lord Rothschild.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jan 25, 2016 18:03:58 GMT
Since Danny has already chosen Tsukada & Nishiyama, Butterflies of the Southeast Asian Islands - the Papilionidae volume being one of my definite favourites - I will plump for Igarashi, 1979. Papilionidae and their Early Stages.
This is an absolutely fantastic book with plates of adults and food plants, but most importantly hand painted illustrations of the early stages of a large number of species of Papilionidae. I am very lucky that Igarashi-san signed my copy when he and his wife visited me in 1986.
Adam.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2016 21:30:10 GMT
Has to be the Aurelian, reading the accounts of long extinct butterflies still enthralls me.
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indra
New Aurelian
Posts: 21
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by indra on Jan 26, 2016 1:22:52 GMT
My most used book and sentimental favorite which got me started again collecting butterflies back in 1979 is "The Butterflies of Southern California" by Thomas C. Emmel and John F. Emmel. This discovery in the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History bookstore was the beginning of numerous adventures into the mountains and deserts of California, then to the Western USA and then to a number of international trips. I still collect in California and the Western USA and have accumulated a large collection of worldwide butterflies. I never have time to get bored. John G. Pasko |
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Post by cabintom on Jan 26, 2016 3:55:48 GMT
" Les Papillons du Zaire" by Lucien Berger. I don't actually own a copy, though I have scans of the pages & plates, and it is evidently outdated (see the title for example), but I'm not aware of any other book that covers the vastness of the butterfly fauna in this part of Africa in such detail. Steve Collins gave me a copy of "Papillons du Gabon" by Gael Vande weghe, which is also a really great book with nicely detailed descriptions for each of the species. I've already found it very helpful, although it's a bit like using a book focusing on the butterflies of Arizona when you live in, say, Florida. |
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Post by africaone on Jan 26, 2016 6:59:20 GMT
" Les Papillons du Zaire" by Lucien Berger. I don't actually own a copy, though I have scans of the pages & plates, and it is evidently outdated (see the title for example), but I'm not aware of any other book that covers the vastness of the butterfly fauna in this part of Africa in such detail. Steve Collins gave me a copy of "Papillons du Gabon" by Gael Vande weghe, which is also a really great book with nicely detailed descriptions for each of the species. I've already found it very helpful, although it's a bit like using a book focusing on the butterflies of Arizona when you live in, say, Florida. " Les Papillons du Zaire" de Lucien Berger is probably one the most used book in my book collection. I got a second examplar as those I first used is completely rubbed (B quality  ). As far as I know it is the most used book for the Congolese collectors (and others), a kind of Bible, a start book for many of us. For Africa there are not so many other books available (D'Abrera for Afrotropical region (first edition and updated), Kielland for Tanzania (and update), Pennington for Southern Africa, Collins et Larsen for Kenya, Larsen for occidental Africa and Vande weghe for Gabon. |
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). As far as I know it is the most used book for the Congolese collectors (and others), a kind of Bible, a start book for many of us. 