SOCIETIES. 69 



in due time to report to tlie Government. A great event in the history 

 of this society was the Royal Charter, which was granted it in 1885. 

 Whilst this and other entomological societies Avere doing gi-eat scientific 

 work, numerous working men were attracted by the great beauty of 

 insects, especially the Lepidoptera, to making collections ; not with a 

 view of arranging them scientifically, but simply to make pictures of 

 them. Of course, it is to be hoped now that such men have the oppor- 

 tiinities of joining societies like our own, they Avill cease this practice, 

 and study them more ; still, there is no doubt but that these collectors 

 did much to invite attention to entomological study. Kirby and 

 Spence, as you are aware, very much commend their industry in this 

 direction, and approve of their taste ; contrasting the difference of 

 sijending their leisure in the country lanes in search of their specimens 

 to sj^ending it at a public house. 



The Spittlefield Weavers may be considered the pioneers in this, 

 and were renowned as Picture Makers. The Poet Crabbe, in " The 

 Borough," 1810, thus describes thom : — 



«« Oft have I smiled, the happy pride to see, 

 Of humble tradesmen in their evening glee, 

 "When of some pleasing good possest 

 Each grew alert, was busy and was blest. 

 Whether the call-bird yield the hour's delight, 

 Or magnified in microscope the mite ; 

 Or, whether tumblers, croppers, carriers, seize 

 The gentle mind — tliey rule it and they please. 

 There is my friend the Weaver, strong desires 

 Reign in his breast : 'tis beauty he admires. 

 See, to the shady grove he wings his way, 

 And feels in hope the rapture of the day — 

 Eager he looks, and soon to glad his eyes 

 From the sweet bower by nature formed, arise 

 Bright troops of virgin moths and fresh-born butterflies." 



This taste for Natural History pursuits spread rapidly amongst the 

 working classes, and twenty years ago " Picture Making " was quite 

 the rage. Sheffield, Oldham, Stalybridge, Leeds and Wakefield Avere 

 towns specially celebrated for this. The father of our Honorary 

 Member, Mr. S. L. Mosley, was an indefatigable picture maker. He 

 used to sell his jjictures to adorn the rooms of public houses, &c., and 

 on one occasion he had an order to cover the walls of a large room 

 with them. In these pictures were ingeniously rejiresented, by 

 gi'oupiug insects together, lions, tigers, elephants, and many other 

 devices. We cannot but regret the destruction thus caused to some of 

 our most beautiful lepidoptera, nor is it surprising that some of these 

 species are now rarities in localities where they once were abimdant. 

 However, as before remarked, such occupation was not without benefit. 

 Many who began as picture makers have become men of science, and 

 not least among these is Mr. S. L. Mosley, whose taste for natural history 

 was acquired by collecting insects for his father and helping the ])icture 

 making. I should like here to record the names of some of those men 

 in our own counties, Lancashire and Cheshire, who were justly 

 celebrated thirty years or so ago, and are still known as indefatigable 

 observers and students of Entomology. They were none of them 

 authors of elaborate works on the subject, but the magazines are full 

 of their contributions and experiences. They were all ardent collectors 

 of insects, particularly the lepidoptera, and not only collectors, but 



