MR. JAMES WM. BOULT 239 



incidentally mentioned that, notwithstanding- the unfortunate 

 general lack of employment one hears so much about in these 

 times, Boult has not lost many weeks during the whole of his 

 career. 



But it will be necessary to retrace our steps somewhat. 

 At the age of twenty-four, Mr. Boult, although never off work, 

 suffered from ill-health. His doctor informed him that his 

 malady was consumption, and that he would not live more than 

 two months unless he left the stonemason's shed and got occu- 

 pation in the open air. Happily this was possible, for a kindly 

 employer sent the young mason to the Springhead Water- 

 works, then in building. This change, together with evening 

 rambles, bird-nesting, and egg-collecting, which were now 

 commenced, brought the desired effect. The incipient 

 consumptive was cured, and is proud and thankful to be able 

 to say that he has had no serious illness from then till now. 

 Bearing on this, he informs us that, although a member of 

 one of the leading friendly societies for upwards of forty 

 years, only on one occasion, of ten days' duration, has he 

 claimed and accepted the sick benefit to which his membership 

 entitled him, and that was owing to an injured limb. Our 

 friend is loud in his praise of the wise advice of his medical 

 man, who seems to have been in advance of his time, as, the 

 carrying of it into practice, coupled with the adopted strictly 

 abstemious habit of life, were undoubtedly the means of 

 securing a healthy body and the naturalist's almost unfailing 

 accompaniment, a healthy and cheerful mental attitude. 



Early in his field expeditions Boult came to look upon 

 harrying birds' nests as very distasteful, and even cruel — a 

 side light this, and eminently characteristic of his kindly 

 nature. So another pursuit which seemed to cause less 

 compunction for the tyro was adopted. A sight of the 

 excellent collection of butterflies and moths made by the late 

 George Sweeney over thirty-five years ago, and a practical 

 initiation into the art of collecting and mounting insects at 

 the hands of the same naturalist, made Mr. Boult an ento- 

 mologist, and as such he has remained constant during all 

 these years. At first the work was not easy. His friend 

 Sweeney left the town shortly after their acquaintanceship 

 began. No books or entomological manuals were at hand. 

 No friendly spirit or local society seemed then to exist, and 

 thus he was thrown largely on his own resources. The 

 discouraging remarks of mild cynics who suggested that 

 "he had turned boy again, catching butterflies," may have 

 irritated him a little, but had little ultimate effect upon the 



