242 HULL SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB. 



Never weary of exhibiting - his insect trophies to any one 

 ever so slightly interested in the subject, about twelve years 

 ago his collections came under the personal notice of Mr. 

 Miall, the distinguished biological professor of the Yorkshire 

 College, now Leeds University. The eye of the keen student 

 and teacher of Natural Science saw at a glance that the 

 preserved insects might prove invaluable as practical illustra- 

 tions in biological and other educational work ; so, after 

 considerable hesitation on the part of their owner, and some 

 bargaining on the part of both entomologist and professor, 

 the cabinet changed hands at a fair price, and is now doing 

 duty according to the original intention in the University 

 already referred to. 



Thus a second time Boult found himself bereft of his 

 beloved insects, and there seemed nothing for it now but to 

 dispense with the remnants of his paraphernalia, which was 

 accordingly done. A few months of unwilling and uncom- 

 fortable idle leisure ensued. When rambling one Saturday 

 afternoon in October, 1893, near the Alexandra Dock, Hull, 

 Boult's eyes fell upon some caterpillars feeding on the seed 

 capsules of the bladder campion [Silene cucubalus, vel. S. 

 inflatci). The larva? were new to him, and the temptation to 

 gather some and see them through their metamorphoses, and 

 thus prove their identity, was irresistible. Accordingly a batch 

 was taken home and observations recommenced. The 

 naturalist was " red-hot at it again," and from that day till 

 now he has not ceased to collect, "breed," observe, preserve, 

 and mount as before ! 



Further, it may be stated that Mr. Boult's latest work in 

 every way shows improvement and marked development upon 

 that of any former period, having been conducted with even 

 greater energy and enthusiasm. Thousands of examples of 

 that garden pest, the currant moth (Abraxas grossulariaia) . 

 have been reared and watched to the perfect insect stage for 

 the purpose of noting the variations in colour and marking ; 

 and the remarkable series in his present collection is the 

 result. Here it may be interpolated that the above does not 

 necessarily indicate anything of the exterminator about our 

 friend. Just the reverse is the case. He never kills an 

 insect that is not of use to his series, but on the contrary lets 

 more thousands fly away on airy wing than the writer dares 

 mention, not wishing to call down upon the entomologist's 

 devoted head the anathemas of horticulturists. 



The question of " Melanism " — the tendency to become 

 black or darker in colour and marking — has had great atten- 



