Butterflies, Caterpillars, Chrysalises antique print. Humphreys Butterfly Transformations c1849

by Humphreys, H.N.

Euchloe Butterfly, Pieris Butterfly, Leptoria Butterfly, on Reseda, Cardamine, Lathyrus.

Euchloe Cardamines (orange-tipped Butterfly) male, female, female underside, Caterpillar, Chrysalis. Pieris Daplidice (Bath white Butterfly) male, female, male underside, Caterpillar, Chrysalis. Leptoria Candida (Wood-white  Butterfly), Caterpillar, Chrysalis... on Reseda Intea (base Rocket or wild Mignonette), Cardamine Pratensis (common meadow Ladies’ Smock), Lathyrus pratensis (Meadow Vetchling).

Original  hand-coloured lithograph arranged and illustrated by H.N. Humphreys Esq., with characters and descriptions by J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L.S. (secretary of the Entomological Society), for British Butterflies and their Transformations published in London c1860. Humphreys' representation of the lifecycle transformations of butterflies and moths with caterpillar, chrysalis and their host plants was commended by the Curators and adopted at the British Museum. The exquisite medieval manuscripts he studied in Italy are reflected in his beautiful illustrations of nature. Humphreys wrote (about natural history), “.. cannot conceive a more pleasing and natural introduction to its general study than entomology, of which I think the division of Lepidoptera.. the most easy and attractive section.  H. N. Humphreys, Esq.”

Page size is 285 x 210mm (11.25 x 8.25 inches). Very faint soiling.