THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XXX.] SEPTEMBER, 1897. [No. 412. 



THE PROTECTION OF LEPIDOPTERA. 



The Entomological Society of London has entered on its 

 work of attempting to control the too assiduous collector with 

 commendable thoroughness ; but the Protection Committee is 

 hardly likely to propose such extreme measures as those 

 suggested by Mr. Harold Hodge in an article on this subject in 

 the ' Saturday Review' (July 17th). " I am not disloyal," writes 

 Mr. Hodge, " to the entomological brotherhood ; I am, and I 

 wish to be considered, one of them ; but I admit I prefer the 

 butterflies to the entomologists." The writer then proceeds to 

 unfold his plans for checkmating the "omnivorous collector." 

 He says : — 



"Entomologists are organised; the Entomological Society of 

 London, as the natural head of all such societies, can declare a 

 close season, and announce the species to which the close season 

 is to apply. They can condemn the purchase of British insects 

 in any stage of life from dealers. They can suspend collecting 

 in particular localities for a specified period of time. They could, 

 for instance, declare that there should be no collecting of the 

 butterfly Papilio macliaon in the egg, larva, pupa, or imago in, 

 say, Wicken Fen for three years. It is for species whose habit 

 is to cling to the same spot from year to year without spreading 

 that protection is especially needed ; such species, while scarce 

 in the country generally, are plentiful where they do occur. 

 They are thus easily grabbed by the collector, while they excite 

 his cupidity from being, in insect-hunting parlance, * good.' 

 There would be no difficulty in making known the Society's 

 edicts to the entomological world. Most collectors take in some 

 entomological journal, or belong to some society. ' Yes ; but, 

 your rules made, promulgated, and understood, how are you to 

 enforce them ? Where is your sanction ? What is the use of 



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