INTRODUCTION 49 



Butterfly Collections 



There are few groups in Nature which offer such ad- 

 vantages to the collector as that of the butterflies. They 

 are easily obtained, easily preserved, and retain their 

 beauty for a long period even under exposure to strong 

 light. They offer opportunities for serious study in 

 which one cannot only review the facts which others have 

 already discovered, but also hope to contribute something 

 of value to the sum of human knowledge. 



The mistake most commonly made by beginners with 

 butterflies, as with other collections, is to undertake too 

 much. Instead of starting on the hopeless task of making 

 a collection of the butterflies of the world, it is much better 

 to start with the intention of making a collection of those 

 of one's own town. In the latter case one can hope soon 

 to attain the desired end and then, if one wishes, it is a 

 simple matter to reach out and make a collection of the 

 butterflies of the state or even of the particular region in 

 which the state is located. The natural limitations for a 

 collection in New England is to make a collection of New 

 England butterflies. There is a splendid example of such 

 a coUection on exhibition in the museum of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History. This contains representa- 

 tives of practically every kind that has been collected 

 in New England, and yet there are less than a hundred 

 species in aU. So it is apparent that a local collection 

 should be attainable by any enthusiastic student and 

 the very fact that the number of species is limited adds 

 interest and satisfaction to the pursuit. 



The main value of any collection of objects lies in the 



