Introductory Chapter, g 



the fliglit of the majority of moths and butterflies, they 

 seem to be more active and stronger on the wing in 

 Teneriffe than those of the same species in England. 



The food of Lepidoptera consists of honey which they 

 take from the flowers, or else a moisture which exudes 

 from trees or plants. Their food is always of a liquid 

 form, and is sucked up through the proboscis or long 

 tongue. The Convolvuli moth hovers at dusk over 

 flowers, inserting its very long tube into the extremity 

 of trumpet-shaped blossoms. 



"When forming a collection of the Lepidoptera of 

 Teneriffe, it seems a pity that so many insects should 

 be unnecessarily caught and destroyed, and the author 

 would earnestly beg all lovers and collectors of the 

 beautiful creatures to bear this in mind, as some of 

 the rarer varieties may otherwise stand a good chance 

 of being exterminated. 



The " muchachos " (Spanish boys) are all too eager to 

 supply any collector with specimens for a few " quartos," 

 and bring many poor mutilated insects in the hope of 

 finding a purchaser. A refusal to buy the much be- 

 fingered and dilapidated creatures does not deter them 



