PAET II 

 WORK AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 



CHAPTEK VI 

 CATCHING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



IT is not at all surprising that entomology should prove such a 

 fascinating study to the young, and more especially that portion 

 which deals with the department we are now considering. Butter- 

 flies and moths are among the most beautiful and most interesting 

 of living creatures. The study of their life history is enchanting, 

 and the creatures themselves are of such a size as to be con- 

 veniently handled and preserved, and withal occupy so little space 

 that anyone with only moderate accommodation may possess a 

 fairly typical collection. 



Compare the work of the entomologist with that of one whose 

 hobby is the study of mammals. The latter has to deal witrrlarge 

 and cumbersome objects, a collection of which requires an enor- 

 mous amount of space ; and, unless he has the time and means to 

 travel in foreign countries, he cannot get together a good typical 

 collection of specimens representing his particular branch, for the 

 few British mammals contain no representatives of several of the 

 orders into which the class is divided. 



Entomology is undoubtedly, par excellence, the study for 

 youngsters. It is equally suited to the studious and to those of an 

 adventurous turn of mind. It leads its follower into the bright sun- 

 shine and the flowery meadows; and with body and mind pleasantly 

 occupied, the joy of living is deeply felt. The necessary apparatus 

 can be made by anyone. No dangerous gun is required, and there 

 are no precipitous rocks to scale. When the autumn flowers fade 

 the year's work of the entomologist is not done, for the arranging 



