Introduction: Iv 



should beware, on the one hand, of driving too hard a bargain, and of carrying on exchange in too 

 mercenary a spirit ; and on the other, of distributing species wholesale for little or no return, and 

 perhaps occasionally allowing himself to be imposed upon. But the medium will be learned by 

 experience ; and in the meantime let every one resolve to deal fairly and honourably towards all his 

 correspondents to the best of his power, and he will not ultimately find himself a loser by it. 



In purchasing insects, buy only perfect specimens, unless it is a species you require very much, 

 and which you may never have an opportunity of procuring again. But these cases are very rare 

 exceptions. And if you confine your collection to Briti.sh insects, do not pay high prices for 

 professedly British specimens of rarities. Most of the rarest British species are abundant on the 

 Continent, and may be had for a mere trifle ; and the few varieties which are really peculiar to 

 Britain are (with the exception of the e.xtinct or nearly extinct fen insects, such as Lycana Dispar 

 and Agrotis Subrosca, for instance) tolerably common where they are to be met with. In buying 

 insects, it is much better to see the specimens yourself; and, in general, it is better never to 

 undertake a commission to buy insects for another, nor to commission any one else to buy for you, 

 as the result is usually unsatisfactory to both parties. 



We have already given directions for packing up insects to be sent away (see p. xlix.), and will 

 therefore only add a few additional remarks here. If they are on long pins, it is well to cover the 

 whole bottom of the box with cotton-wool ; but when they are pinned low, as English-set insects 

 generally are, this cannot be done. When only a few specimens require to be sent, they may be 

 sent by post, packed in small boxes, sold by the dealers in entomological apparatus as postal 

 boxes, and made specially strong for the purpose. These should be tightly wrapped up in 

 several thicknesses of cotton-wool or tow, and either enclosed in an outer covering of thick paper, 

 and then tied round firmly with string, or enclosed in a network of string so carefully that it 

 cannot possibly slip off. The address and stamps must on no account be placed on the box itself 

 but on an ordinary parchment luggage-label, which must be carefully tied on the box, so that the 

 post-marks may all be attached to the label ; and thus any risk of accidental injury to the box in 

 the process of stamping at the post-office may be avoided. 



ON THE SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF LEPIDOPTF.RA. 



Before Linnaeus succeeded in establishing a definite system of nomenclature for natural 

 objects, it was almost impossible for the study of natural history to be pursued to advan- 

 tage ; and hence it is not surprising that naturalists were formerly looked upon as triflers, or 

 worse. Indeed, such was the contempt with which the pursuit of entomology was regarded, 

 that about two hundred years ago an action-at-Iaw was taken to set aside the will of Lady 

 GlanviUe on the ground of insanity ; and the chief, if not the only, evidence relied on by the 

 plaintiffs was her fondness for collecting insects. 



But Time brings about strange reverses ; and the Glanville Fritillary,* named after this 

 lady, has carried down her name to our own times, and will probably perpetuate her memory 

 for many succeeding generations. 



At present the study of butterflies, so far from being despised, is regarded by many of 

 our leading naturalists as of great importance in helping to elucidate many of the problems 

 of modern science. The variation of the same species in different localities, or on account of 

 change of food ; the extraordinary resemblance of whole groups to others, to which they have no 



* Melitcea Ciiixia (vide p. 15). 



