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entomologists concerning dimorphic forms of Papilio memnon 

 have led to results of prime importance. In the smaller islands, 

 such as, for example, the Solomon Islands and the Mascarene 

 Islands, where some of our most interesting insects and plants 

 occur, the gradual development of the areas in question must 

 destroy the native fauna and flora, if adequate protection is 

 not provided by the establishment of reserves in these localities. 



I now propose to lay before the Fellows of the Entomo- 

 logical Society some notes about the preservation of nature 

 in various countries, looking at the problem geographically. 

 I trust that the Fellows will permit me to show them some 

 slides illustrating some points upon which I propose to touch. 



In Great Britain we have The Society for the Promotion 

 of Nature Eeserves and The National Trust, and also The 

 Society for the Preservation of Commons. We are all working 

 on similar lines, though The Society for the Promotion of 

 Nature Reserves is the only one whose primary object is to 

 protect nature for the sake of its fauna and flora alone. I 

 suppose the most interesting reserve we have in the British 

 Islands is that of Wicken Fen. The first step towards the 

 acquiring and preservation of this area was taken by Mr. 

 Moberly many years ago. Since that date our lamented 

 President, Mr. Verrall, succeeded in acquiring and handing 

 over to The National Trust a sufficient area of this locality 

 to insure its permanent preservation. The National Trust 

 has also acquired some thirty acres of Adventurers' Fen, which, 

 though not a sedge fen, and not resembling Wicken Fen in 

 its general vegetation, is of very considerable interest to the 

 entomologist, exhibiting, as it does, some remarkable reed 

 growths. I must also mention Wood Walton Fen, which is 

 a nature reserve kept by a private owner. This place, which 

 is of real botanical but slight entomological interest, is cer- 

 tainly a desirable spot. The Society for the Promotion of 

 Nature Reserves recently acquired and handed over to The 

 National Trust the lease of a small area in the Midlands of 

 quite exceptional interest. It is the home of several rare 

 orchids, some other plants of very great interest, and also of 

 some rare insects. It is much to be hoped that this area, 

 small as it is, may be preserved for posterity. We also must 



