THE PROTECTION OF LEPIDOPTERA. 231 



"where they both abounded ever been visited by entomologist or 

 collector. I have every sympathy with those who have founded 

 societies for the protection of our wild birds, and brought about 

 Acts of Parliament for their preservation. As I have said earlier 

 in these lines, I look with abhorrence on the useless, senseless, 

 and vulgar destruction of any kind of wild life. I admire equally 

 the efforts which certain collectors of butterflies and moths have 

 been making for the formation of an association to protect dis- 

 appearing species in our fauna. Doubtless their efforts may 

 prolong for a few years the stay of these species with us ; but if 

 their diminution is due to the forces of nature or to their 

 inadaptability to accommodate themselves to human civilisation, 

 no amount of dilettante preservation will stop their ultimate 

 extinction. While forming these societies and advocating the 

 abstention from collecting, humanitarians must be careful not 

 to allow sentimental feelings to interfere with the proper 

 acquisition of representatives of our fauna for scientific purposes. 

 I venture, however, to hold the opinion that at no time has 

 scientific collection caused the extinction of any species." 



Everyone will agree with Mr. Carrington that the naturalist 

 must not be denied a free hand in acquiring specimens for 

 study ; but there does not seem to be any reason to apprehend 

 that anyone desires to interfere with him, or yet with the 

 collector of moths and butterflies who merely wishes to complete 

 his series of these insects. It has been considered desirable, 

 however, that some local species of Lepidoptera should not be 

 "worked" so closely and persistently as they have been, as the 

 continuance of such a course may tend, it is thought, to hasten 

 their extinction in this country, an event, by the way, which in 

 some instances appears likely enough to occur from causes 

 (possibly natural) about which we at present know very little 

 indeed. Those entomologists, therefore, who have local species 

 within their areas of observation, are asked to do all they can to 

 foster such species, and we do not for one moment doubt that 

 they will do so. 



It will never be necessary to put in operation the pains 

 and penalties which Mr. Hodge would mete out to the con- 

 tumacious, because entomologists are quite able to effectually 

 deal with a refractory member of the community without 

 resorting to exceptional measures. They have been successful 

 in the past in defeating the cunningly-devised plans of the 

 vendor or exchanger of spurious British insects and manufactured 

 varieties ; and now that moderation in collecting local species is 

 recognised as a prudent course, they will find means to enforce 

 its adoption whenever or wherever the occasion arises. 



u2 



