INTRODUCTION. Ixiii 



of the largest and finest species frequented the neighbour- 

 hood of clear running water. I considered the brooks on the 

 estate of Mariendaal a good hunting ground, for I had already 

 found so many fine specimens there that I always directed my 

 steps thither again, sure that sooner or later I should again 

 make some good capture. 



" When, ten years later, I again took to the Butterfly-net in 

 the East Indian islands, the same*thing happened to me there 

 also, only, as one who is accustomed to tropical climates 

 would expect to find, on a much larger scale than in tem- 

 perate regions. In these islands, where the clear mountain 

 streams rush foaming over masses of rock, especially where 

 the rivers flow swiftest and purest, down waterfalls, or near 

 water broken by irregularities of the bed, the haunts of the 

 great Butterflies are to be found, and there can one feel sure, 

 when there is no want of sunshine, of seeing oneself sur- 

 rounded by many forms of these children of the sun, whose 

 number and beautiful colours would amaze the Northern 

 collector. I say amaze, but his eye and mind would alike be 

 ravished with the possession of the beauties of Nature, for 

 nowhere does tropical nature show itself more dazzling than 

 here, where in the twilight formed by the over-arching of the 

 incredibly luxuriant tropical vegetation, due to the heat and 

 damp, the mountain stream, in the fierce glare of the sun, 

 rushes swiftly down like a broad shining silver streak, breaking 

 through the darker hues of the bank, foaming and dashing 

 spray over every rock in its path, which is covered at every 

 turn with drops of water illumined by the sun into glittering 

 jewels ; while above and between, in perfect harmony with 

 that life, splendour, and beauty of colour, the richly orna- 

 mented flying flowers, which we call Butterflies, flit to and fro. 



" Why do we find Butterflies prefer such places ? It is, per- 

 haps, because they are, if I may so express it, of a thirsty 



