Re: new moth books

Title: Re: new moth books

Another book, beautifully illustrated like Howe's is Smith & the Miller's Butt's of the West Indies and S. FL.  Outstanding renditions.  I agree with Ron and Stan and think there is room for all of it.  It is cheaper and faster to produce good digital images these days.  But I stand in awe of the painters.  I also like going into a library and cracking open one of the old journals with original descriptions and seeing these brilliant color illustrations leap off the page.  The inks they used for printing sure have staying power.

Rich

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stanley A. Gorodenski"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 3:12 PM
> Subject: Re: new moth books
>
>
> > Ron, I agree with what you are saying, but on the other hand
> sometimes
> > there is so much variation in a species that maybe it might be
> difficult
> > to get a real specimen that will illustrate the particular wing
> markings
> > well enough to make the species identification easy. Maybe a
> painting,
> > _if_ the painter is also knowledgeable about the species they
> are
> > painting, might be able to give a clearer "key", so to
> speak. This is
> > not disputing what you are saying, just another thought.
> > Stan
>
> Dittos on the variation.  This is what is so good about the
> Moths of North
> America North of Mexico (MONA), they present several variations on
> each
> taxon.   The Brock / Kaufman book does the same thing with
> their photos,
> they provide variation pictures.  (This is the best basic Guide
> on the
> marker.) The only real place where I can see a painting being of
> more
> benefit is with things like Morphos where a photo can not provide
> the
> different "looks" from different reflections.
>
> I also love the Howe paintings and have one book of his that is more
> art
> than science.  Its great because it accomplished what the book
> is about -
> butterfly beauty.
>
> Ron Gatrelle
>
>
>
>  
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--
Richard A. Worth
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Plant Division
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(503) 986-6461