I always find it weird that I prefer field guides with illustrations rather than photos. I mean, well-taken photos, presented properly should show exactly what the creature looks like in the field.
But I have to admit to finding something 'unnatural' about guides such as
Richard Crossley's that use the latest in imaging technology to create a photo collage of similar species in a field guide form.
I suppose the clean, pale backgrounds of an illustrated guide mean that the focus is on the bird or moth. I never liked the Lars Jonsson guide to European birds because I thought he added too much extra detail around the birds. I found that this distracted from the job at hand - focussing on the bird.
Me, I always go for a Alan Harris, Killian Mullarney or Richard Lewington kind of guide. I tend to stick with what I like.
So that thought-dump preamble was due to the fact that I recently bought the 2nd Edition of the
Manley moth guide.
And it's all photos......
I have the first edition but have to admit not using it too much, except for the odd micro confirmation. This edition has dropped the butterflies and added lots more micros and more importantly has tried to add consistency into how each species is presented. i.e. facing the same way and in a similar position for species of the same family.
I've spent a couple of bedtimes flicking through it so far, and I think it will get some use, but mainly as back up reference. The Lewington-illustrated guides will always be my first port-of-call.
The new images are far better, and there's a useful scale bar to help with size comparison. I have found a few errors in the new numbering system without looking too hard. For example, there's a Netted Pug masquerading as something else and several species around
Amata phegea seem to have the same reference number.
These small gripes aside, this is a big improvement on the original and it should encourage less photo field guide phobic people than myself into the wonderful world of moths.
