Winged Soothsayers

Publisher: Aleph

Price: Rs 495

Pages: 224

Popular natural history writing in India is yet to catch on as it has in countries with far less diversity in flora and fauna,so any new book in this field is a welcome addition. And especially if the book deals with the lesser but often most important creatures that we share our environment with: the small,busy creatures that whiz and buzz and swirl and basically,make the world go round.

Peter Smetacek,a renowned lepidopterist has been pushing the cause of butterflies and moths in India all his life,and hails from a family that has done much the same. Settled in Bhimtal,he has been studying and collecting butterflies and has published over 60 scientific papers on the insects,and described a dozen species new to science. In this neat book he recounts his life and adventures with the butterflies and moths,especially of the Himalayas and those who are passionate about them.

While butterflies and moths are the belles of the ball,Smetacek does not ignore the other creatures that he and his family share their lives with: the supporting cast no less sharply observed include lizards,shrews,toads,snakes,cats,owls,beetles,spiders,monkeys,and of course,several fanatic and often eccentric humans mostly foreigners,sad to say. For people especially in cities,who think the apocalypse is here if they see a mouse in the kitchen or an ant in the jam jar,this should be an eye-opener. Life is certainly richer and fuller and less sterile if you share it with other denizens of the world and can frequently lead to a life-long passion!

As for Smetacek and his ilk,this passion often led to expeditions and treks in pursuit of rare species and situations which were often borderline lunacy,and which were dangerous and comical especially if you admit to hunting butterflies in Nepal as the scope for misunderstanding is immense.

Smetacek cleverly interweaves anecdotes with scientific facts and factoids about these delicate,and yet hardy,insects and their role in telling us about the state of our environment. The presence or absence of a particular species of butterfly from an area has a tale to tell regarding whats happening in that area; physically or climate-wise. Butterflies use numerous tricks to safeguard their well-being: some brightly coloured ones are distasteful and even poisonous especially to birds others mimic these and may be good to eat but are avoided.

While lepidopterists collect butterflies in order to identify and describe them scientifically,people also collect them for commercial reasons,which might spoil the prospects of a species,especially if it is rare. Wall plates depicting dazzling butterflies may look good in drawing rooms,but its so much better to see the insects dancing over blooms in the sun. For scientific purposes and research,the sacrifice can be justified,but I personally wouldnt want to start collecting butterflies as a hobby. There is no mention of this the book,which would have been useful.

This book will be invaluable and enjoyable for both the lay and specialist reader though it is geared more towards a popular audience. And that,most certainly is the need of the hour. It certainly should whet curiosity and hopefully make the reader check out the butterflies identified scientifically,so that theres no confusion,look like. Hopefully Smetacek will consider publishing an illustrated encyclopedia of butterflies of India.

Ranjit Lal is an author and environmentalist