240 HULL SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 



young enthusiast. Besides the perfect insects, eggs and 

 larvae of the lepidoptera were obtained, and "breeding" 

 commenced. Newman's book ("Moths and Butterflies," 25/-), 

 after some exercise of self-denial and thrift, was purchased, 

 and then began the fascinating pursuit which with increasing 

 strength has exercised our friend up to the present time. 

 The observation of the transformation of instcts into their 

 various phases became most attractive. Here are his own 

 words: — "The more I went into it, the more I wanted to 

 know. It became so interesting always to be learning some- 

 thing new, and to be getting health as well." 



One incident of this period the now expert entomologist 

 never fails to relate with enthusiasm. It was the taking of 

 his first batch of the caterpillars of one of the tortoise shell 

 butterflies {Vanessa urticce). Information had been obtained 

 that these were feeding in an old lane between Stoneferry and 

 Sutton, the lane where tradition has it the peacock butterfly 

 ( Vanessa lo) was formerly to be found. Getting his desiderata, 

 however, meant losing half-a-day's work, and this was out of 

 the question. So, leaving his bed before three in the 

 morning, he hurried to the spot, found the larvae, and, 

 depositing them upon their proper food plant, of which he 

 had a supply at home, was at work as usual by six o'clock ! 



Out of failures — and who, that devotes himself to any 

 pursuit, has not failures ? — Boult made capital and invested 

 in other branches of nature study. Insects falling short or 

 dying off in hundreds in the caterpillar stage, as at first they 

 frequently did, owing to lack of knowledge of their proper 

 food plants, sent the entomologist to the study of the native 

 wild plants, and incidentally again to the old thrush food — 

 land and freshwater molluscs. And thus, besides insects, 

 excellently preserved collections of plants and shells have 

 also been made, which have proved of great value to local 

 botanists and conchologists. So are the sciences inter- 

 related. 



It will readily appear that the above could only be under- 

 taken by increase of the love of the field and rambling therein. 

 Unquestionably it would mean health, as he says, both to 

 body and mind. Constant touch with nature is marvellously 

 rejuvenescent of all the powers, including the desire to get 

 and give mutual aid in those subjects we have at heart. 

 Thus it came about that the first Hull Field Naturalists' 

 Society was thought of, J. W. Boult being one of the first to 

 suggest such an organisation. Accordingly, together with 

 Mr. Redyard, from Liverpool, sometime resident in Hull, a 



