Collins Butterfly Guide

[balkantrek]

I see that there is a new softcover edition of the Collins Butterfly Guide coming out. I have only glanced at a previous edition in a bookshop and it looked quite good to me...I particularly liked the fact that it seemed to show both male and female butterflies in full, rather than what is often done with one wing upper- and one winger underside, which I personally don't find ideal.

However, I have also read a lot of very unfavourable reviews of previous editions of this book.

I am interested to know what other forum members think of this guide as i am looking to purchase a new butterfly guide for Europe. I currently have an old 1984 edition of Higgins & Riley's 'A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain & Europe'.

Is the Collins Butterfly Guide really as bad as people have said...and have new editions (such as this latest softcover one) ironed out some of the errors I have seen mentioned.

[Lance Morgan]

I have Higgins & Riley and bought Collins a year ago. For the price it is excellent. If you spend a lot of time chasing butterflies in Europe then possibly a more expensive reference would be required. In order to identify some of the Blues and Skippers in the field you would have to catch them or get a very good photograph of the undersides. For an amateur the Collins is fine.

[Phototoxin]

Yeah I picked mine up while at the entomology museum in Liverpool. Its a purple covered one dated 1996. Its usually good but for somethings it's not as good. I'm only an amature so its not a big deal. I'd reccomend it. It's only about £9 and is a very good size and is 'ergonomic' - it will actually fit in your pocket

[Lance Morgan]

I would not put Higgins/Riley or Collins in pocket LOL But Collins is well worth the money.