Greece Butterflies Request

Thu May 10 17:08:43 EDT 2001

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Book Review
by Jeffrey Glassberg

The Butterflies of Greece
by Lazaros N. Pemperis. Bastas - Plessas Publications, 21 Herous Str. =
104 42 Athens, Greece. 1997. 575 pages, 1174 color photographs, 8.5" x =
11.5" hardcover. $90 U.S. + $8 shipping & handling=20

Like traditional butterfly "field guides" on this continent, the few =
books that might have served as adequate field guides to European =
butterflies have, in reality, been desk guides to dead butterflies. The =
treatments of regional guides (such as those to Finnish and Swiss =
butterflies -- to cite two of many) have been somewhat more enlightened, =
with most of these books including photographs of butterflies in the =
field, along with illustrations of dead butterflies.=20

   Now, Lazaros Pamperis fully embraces the concept of butterflying with =
binoculars and presents us with a stunning book that allows us to =
luxoriate in the bountiful butterfly diversity of Greece. 232 species =
have been recorded from Greece, a country roughly the same size as =
Wyoming. Given that the total number of species occurring in Europe is =
only about 380 (compared to more than 700 in North America) this is =
quite remarkable.=20

   In a stroke of good luck for most NABA members, this book is written =
completely in English (although why this is so mystifies me). This is a =
book to savor at home (especially good curled up by a warm fire in the =
dead of winter). Here we can visit with some old friends, such as the =
Mourning Cloak, feel comfortable with some of their close relatives =
European Snout, for one -- and delight in new wing patterns -- those =
crazy white-browns (Melanargia) come to mind.=20

   Most of the book is devoted to accounts of the species. Each account =
contains sections about identification, similar species, flight period, =
distribution, ecology, status, a table showing altitudes of colonies and =
a Greek range map -- using dots to show known locations. Unfortunately, =
range maps are not shown for species that the author lists as rare or =
threatened (mainly by collectors, according to the author), and there =
are many such species.=20

   Each account is accompanied by from 2 to about 13 color photographs, =
with an average of about 5. There's a lot of color here! The photographs =
vary from adequate to excellent, with most being very good. Design and =
layout are attractive and production values are quite high.=20

Tables at the end of the book summarize the flight period, elevational =
range, Greek subregion, and habitat in which each species occurs -- a =
useful trip-planner!=20

   Since all the butterflies treated in this book have previously been =
given English names, and the book is in English, it is a little =
surprising to see that Pamperis uses only scientific names. This is too =
bad, because most NABA members would probably enjoy knowing that =
Zerynthia cretica is known as the Cretan Festoon. And, unfortunately, =
but understandably, Pamperis has used the scientific nomenclature of =
Higgins and Riley, resulting in the genocide of genera.=20

   For example, 55 species of blues are treated in this book and these =
are placed in 27 genera, i.e., the average genus size is 2! Since the =
whole purpose of a genus designation is to group related species, this =
splitting obfuscates relationships, rather than making biological =
connections. A case in point -- page 131 shows two nice photos of a =
blue. Its underside pattern looks extremely similar to that of a Marine =
Blue, and there on its upperside is the characteristic ultramarine blue =
wing bases and violet on the rest of the wings (see page 34). I think -- =
definitely a Leptotes, but the name reads Syntarucus pirithous! So I =
called Bob Robbins at the Smithsonian and asked "what is this =
Syntarucus?" He said, "Oh, Harry Clench studied those and reported in a =
1963 paper that they were really Leptotes."=20

   Unfortunately, there are also many American workers who believe that =
if populations exhibit any differences then they must be called species =
(rather than subspecies) and who never saw a genus that shouldn't be =
broken into two, or five, genera. However, none of the above is intended =
as a criticism of the author, who has merely followed a standard =
European taxonomy.=20

In addition to being de rigour for Greece, this book will be usefully =
studied before any trip to Europe. Even when Europe is not on one's =
travel horizon, the wealth of photographs of live butterflies will allow =
NABA members to gain a better understanding of the larger groupings to =
which many North American butterflies belong.=20

   The price of $90 (U.S.) plus $8 s/h is probably high enough to put =
the book out of the reach of many people, but it is not unreasonable =
given the contents.=20

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25 Dec 1998 / Main Page=20

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<DIV>
<H1>Book Review</H1>
by Jeffrey Glassberg The Butterflies of=20
Greece by Lazaros N. Pemperis. Bastas - Plessas Publications, 21 =
Herous=20
Str. 104 42 Athens, Greece. 1997. 575 pages, 1174 color photographs, =
8.5" x=20
11.5" hardcover. $90 U.S. + $8 shipping &amp; handling =
 Like=20
traditional butterfly "field guides" on this continent, the few books =
that might=20
have served as adequate field guides to European butterflies have, in =
reality,=20
been desk guides to dead butterflies. The treatments of regional guides =
(such as=20
those to Finnish and Swiss butterflies -- to cite two of many) have been =

somewhat more enlightened, with most of these books including =
photographs of=20
butterflies in the field, along with illustrations of dead butterflies.=20
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, Lazaros Pamperis fully embraces the concept of =

butterflying with binoculars and presents us with a stunning book that =
allows us=20
to luxoriate in the bountiful butterfly diversity of Greece. 232 species =
have=20
been recorded from Greece, a country roughly the same size as Wyoming. =
Given=20
that the total number of species occurring in Europe is only about 380 =
(compared=20
to more than 700 in North America) this is quite remarkable.=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In a stroke of good luck for most NABA members, =
this book=20
is written completely in English (although why this is so mystifies me). =
This is=20
a book to savor at home (especially good curled up by a warm fire in the =
dead of=20
winter). Here we can visit with some old friends, such as the Mourning =
Cloak,=20
feel comfortable with some of their close relatives European Snout, for =
one --=20
and delight in new wing patterns -- those crazy white-browns =
(Melanargia)=20
come to mind.=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Most of the book is devoted to accounts of the =
species.=20
Each account contains sections about identification, similar species, =
flight=20
period, distribution, ecology, status, a table showing altitudes of =
colonies and=20
a Greek range map -- using dots to show known locations. Unfortunately, =
range=20
maps are not shown for species that the author lists as rare or =
threatened=20
(mainly by collectors, according to the author), and there are many such =

species.=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each account is accompanied by from 2 to about 13 =
color=20
photographs, with an average of about 5. There's a lot of color here! =
The=20
photographs vary from adequate to excellent, with most being very good. =
Design=20
and layout are attractive and production values are quite high.=20
Tables at the end of the book summarize the flight period, =
elevational range,=20
Greek subregion, and habitat in which each species occurs -- a useful=20
trip-planner!=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since all the butterflies treated in this book have =

previously been given English names, and the book is in English, it is a =
little=20
surprising to see that Pamperis uses only scientific names. This is too =
bad,=20
because most NABA members would probably enjoy knowing that Zerynthia =

cretica is known as the Cretan Festoon. And, unfortunately, but=20
understandably, Pamperis has used the scientific nomenclature of Higgins =
and=20
Riley, resulting in the genocide of genera.=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, 55 species of blues are treated in =
this book=20
and these are placed in 27 genera, i.e., the average genus size is 2! =
Since the=20
whole purpose of a genus designation is to group related species, this =
splitting=20
obfuscates relationships, rather than making biological connections. A =
case in=20
point -- page 131 shows two nice photos of a blue. Its underside pattern =
looks=20
extremely similar to that of a Marine Blue, and there on its upperside =
is the=20
characteristic ultramarine blue wing bases and violet on the rest of the =
wings=20
(see page 34). I think -- definitely a Leptotes, but the name =
reads=20
Syntarucus pirithous! So I called Bob Robbins at the Smithsonian =
and=20
asked "what is this Syntarucus?" He said, "Oh, Harry Clench =
studied those=20
and reported in a 1963 paper that they were really Leptotes."=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unfortunately, there are also many American workers =
who=20
believe that if populations exhibit any differences then they must be =
called=20
species (rather than subspecies) and who never saw a genus that =
shouldn't be=20
broken into two, or five, genera. However, none of the above is intended =
as a=20
criticism of the author, who has merely followed a standard European =
taxonomy.=20
In addition to being de rigour for Greece, this book will be =
usefully=20
studied before any trip to Europe. Even when Europe is not on one's =
travel=20
horizon, the wealth of photographs of live butterflies will allow NABA =
members=20
to gain a better understanding of the larger groupings to which many =
North=20
American butterflies belong.=20
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The price of $90 (U.S.) plus $8 s/h is probably =
high enough=20
to put the book out of the reach of many people, but it is not =
unreasonable=20
given the contents. 
<HR>

<ADDRESS>25 Dec 1998 / <A href=3D"http://www.naba.org/index.html">Main =
Page=20
</A></ADDRESS></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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