Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland

Over forty years, Richard Lewington has built up a reputation as one of Europe’s finest wildlife illustrators. He first became interested in butterflies as a child when he inherited a cabinet of insects. He studied graphic design at the Berkshire College of Art, and since leaving in 1971 has specialised in natural-history illustration. His meticulous paintings of insects and other wildlife are the mainstay of many of the modern classics of field-guide art. He has also designed and illustrated wildlife stamps for a number of countries.

• IntroductionConservationThe structure of a butterflyThe life cycle of a butterflyThe six butterfly familiesHow to use this guide At-a-glance guideMain descriptions Swallowtail Skippers Whites and yellows Browns Fritillaries, admirals and tortoiseshells Duke of Burgundy Coppers, hairstreaks and blues Extinct species and rare migrants Day-flying mothsFurther reading Index

This is a beautiful piece of work and exceeds any expectation that one might have of a pocket guide, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.