THOMAS MOUFET’S INSECTORUM THEATRUM
Second edition revised and expanded

    

Insectorum Theatrum, or the Theatre of Insects, was the first book on insects published in Britain and the earliest book on natural history, other than the herbals. It has associations with some of the greatest Renaissance naturalists and other historical figures of the sixteenth century. Although much has been written about this fascinating book, a thorough study of the Theatrum and the surviving manuscript, with a comprehensive identification of the moths and butterflies, has never been done.

This book is the outcome of a detailed study of the manuscript. The history of the book and the biographies are offered as introductions. It introduces the many facets of the Theatrum’s story, provides detailed identification of the species and includes a translation and facsimile of the sections on moths, butterflies and their larvae.

The first edition was limited to the chapter De Papilionibus, or Of Butterflies. This new edition adds a section on the early stages of Lepidoptera called ‘Erucis’ by Moufet, ‘caterpillers’ by Topsell and ‘catterpillers’ by John Rowland in his translation.

This second edition has been produced in an inexpensive format to make it accessible to more readers than was the case with the first, limited edition.

CONTENTS
Preface
Preface to the second edition
Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum
The manuscript
The book
The content
The followers
The writer-Thomas Moufet
The contributors
Thomas Penny
Edward Wotton
Conrad Gesner
Edward Topsell
John White
Sir Théodore Mayerne
Thomas Cotes-the printer
The illustrations
The original watercolours
The woodcuts
De Papilionibus-Of Butterflies
Facsimile: De Papilionibus-Of Butterflies
De Erucis-Of Caterpillers
Facsimile: De Eruci-Of Catterpillers
Select bibliography
The earliest surviving specimen of a butterfly?

ISBN 978 0 9540891 7 7
paperback
A4 108 pages (some in colour)
£19.95 p&p £2.50

THE MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLIES: A STUDY IN GENETICS, MORPHOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

                        

The Meadow Brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) has been the subject for research since the middle of last century. Aspects of its genetics, morphology and ecology have fascinated scientists and naturalists alike. It has been drawn and painted by artists since the Middle Ages. Its relatives in the tribe Maniolini (the genera Maniola, Pyronia, Aphantopus, Hyponephele and Cercyonis) have not been given as much attention and differences between these insects are not well understood.

The main part of this book is a PhD thesis, written in 1987 as an outcome of a six-year study of, and lifelong interest in the butterflies of the tribe Maniolini from genetic and morphological perspectives, leading to some suggestions on the relationships between the genera and species. Although we live in a different world now, especially in the light of more recent DNA techniques, the thesis still attracts a great deal of attention and forms a useful basis for further study.

CONTENTS
Enzyme variation at morphological boundaries in Maniola and related genera (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)
Paper-Maniola chia-a new Satyrid from the Greek Island of Chios (Lepidoptera: Nyphalidae: Satyrinae)
Supplement-thesis, papers and other documents since 1987 related to the study of meadow brown butterflies

ISBN 978-0-9540891-3-9
A5  344 pages  illustrated
£19.50 p&p £3.50

GLASGOW CACTI

This book is a history of the Glasgow Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society and includes details of its origin and establishment, early shows, early members with illustrations of people, places and early news cuttings. Any profits from the sale of the book go towards BCSS Glasgow Branch funds.

ISBN 978 0 9540891 6 0
A5  24 pages illustrated
£3.95 p&p £2.00 (£2.50 for 2+)

THE BUTTERFLIES OF SCOTLAND: A NATURAL HISTORY

Out of print

MELOCACTUS CARE AND CULTIVATION

CONTENTS
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Background
Biology
Morphology
Reproduction
Conservation
The genus Melocactus
Distribution and habitats
The species
Melocactus Link & Otto
Cultivation
Environmental requirements
Propagation
Cultivation in warm climates
Pests, diseases and other cultivation problems
Labelling and record keeping
Appendices
Synonyms of Melocactus species
Field numbers
Bibliography

ISBN 978-88-95018-01-0
12 inches by 8.5 inches  94 pages
illustrated in colour throughout
£23.00
Published by Cactus&Co Libri
Available from Keith’s Plant Books

MELOCACTUS THE GENUS IN ARUBA, BONAIRE AND CURAÇAO

 

This book is a detailed account of the Melocactus species found in the Netherlands Antilles (ABC Islands). It includes a background to their history, geography, fauna and flora and details of the four species which are found on the islands. It includes extensive information on identification and variation and is illustrated in colour throughout.

CONTENTS
Introduction
The islands
Geology
Climate
Terrestrial fauna
Flora
The genus Melocactus
Melocacti of the ABC islands
The species

ISBN 978 0 9540891 8 4
A5  72 pages illustrated in colour
£15 + p&p UK £2.50, rest of Europe £4, USA and Canada £5