( XXXV ) 



seen ten collectors (including two dealers) standing in a straight 

 line in its restricted haunts, and the poor butterfly had cer- 

 tainly been over-collected. He thought one particular man 

 practically extirpated Melitcva athalia at Chattenden. He 

 remembered that a collector admitted taking GO specimens 

 of Lyctcna ariun in a year at Barnwell Wold, 50 the next 

 year, and so on. The whole question was one for local 

 Societies. If it was known that a species was being extermin- 

 ated in a particular district the local Society could be asked to 

 take some action in the matter. He thought the idea of mak- 

 ing laws was absurd. The local Societies might easily take 

 the subject in hand ; but he did not think a resolution of any 

 Society would have much efi'ect on the greedy collector. 



Walter F.H.Blandford, Esq., M.A.,F.Z.S., Vice-President, 

 then took the chair. 



Mr. Blandford said he thought if the Society itself appointed 

 a Committee, and the terms of the reference were as open as 

 possible, that would meet the views of all. 



Mr. Waterhouse expressed an opinion that the Meeting had 

 no power under the Bye -Laws to appoint a Committee, but he 

 considered that they should request the President to lay the 

 matter before the Council, and ask them to appoint a 

 Committee as soon as possible to investigate the matter. 



Mr. McLachlan said he thought that was what was in- 

 tended. He hoped some report of this discussion would get 

 into the papers, and shame some of the would-be despoilers. 

 Would it not be desirable to co-operate with other Societies 

 for the preservation of plants ? 



Mr. Elwes said he thought that would probably be done. 

 The Council could communicate with the Selborne Society 

 and others of a like kind. He would move that a Committee 

 be appointed with power to add to its numbers if thought 

 necessary. 



Mr. Blandford said that that was in the mind of the Council. 



Mr. Goss asked Colonel Irby if he would state how and 

 when Lyccena avion disappeared in Northamptonshire. 



Colonel Irby stated that L. arion had disappeared many years 

 ago not only from Barnwell Wold, Northamptonshire, but from 

 another part of the county on the estate of Lord Lilford, not 



