ioo FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



of the ' Large Copper ' butterfly, in the face of such 

 vast and magnificent advantages. Still, he may be 

 pardoned for casting 'one longing, lingering look 

 behind ; ' and I cannot but with some regret recall, 

 at all events, the time when almost any number of 

 this dazzling fly was easily procurable, either 'by 

 purchase' or 'by exchange/ for our cabinets. A 

 goodly 'rank and file' from some individuals, of 

 which the figures in the plates are taken, I now 

 consider myself fortunate in possessing, for the 

 existing number of indigenous specimens is no 

 more again to be added to by any fresh recruits : 

 ' Fuit Ilium et ingens gloria ' 



' The light of other days has faded, and all its glories past. 5 " 



In such-like happy and unstudied expressions he 

 loved to speak about the various species under 

 consideration one after another. He treated of 

 them, not as scientific hardnesses, but rather as old 

 friends surrounded with endless reminiscences ; and 

 he himself spoke as one to whom every country 

 sight and sound was dear. 



In some of his descriptions you seem to have 

 not only the picture of the familiar insect before 

 you, but also a refreshing bit of country setting with 

 it. Here is an instance that bears out my remark : 



"This butterfly ('The Gatekeeper 'Hipparchia 

 megcsra) is to be seen flitting in its zig-zag manner 

 along the banks, which for the most part it frequents, 

 in July and August. It is fond of settling on walls, 

 whence one of its English names, seeming to take 



