This is an introductory field guide, specifically aimed at the user who has little knowledge of butterflies. The layout and text have been kept simple, to allow easy identification of species and groups in Southern Africa. The colour-coded plates enable the reader to first identify a butterfly by its most obvious characteristic - its colour, and are arranged irrespective of taxonomic relationships. Once the colour grouping has been established, the reader can gauge size, identify patterns, and then refer to the text to check features and establish distribution. English and Afrikaans common names are used, with the scientific names given in parentheses. The book also deals with basic butterfly biology, alerts the layman to easily confused species, and gives directions on how to use the guide in the field. The author is the founder of the Lepidopterist's Society of Southern Africa.