134 THE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL MOTH. , 



This is not at all a common Moth, but is so 

 characteristic that it could not well be omitted ; 

 and it is not impossible that even yet it may 

 become comparatively plentiful, as has been 

 the case with many insects which were once 

 extremely rare, but are now held as common. 

 Mr. Newman gives the young collector a valu- 

 able hint respecting this insect. " Some supposed 

 English specimens are sold by dealers at a very 

 high price, a fact that holds out a perpetual 

 premium to fraud. I strongly recommend en- 

 tomologists never to buy an English specimen. 

 If they desire to place a specimen of this 

 beautiful insect in their cabinets, let them give 

 a few pence for a Erench or German specimen, 

 and, having labelled it with care, place it in its 

 appointed station. It is an evidence of folly to 

 give two or three pounds for an insect just 

 because it is supposed to be taken on the Eng- 

 lish instead of the Erench side of the Channel. 

 This practice, however, prevails to so great an 

 extent as to render it next to impossible to 

 unravel the history of every reputed British 

 specimen." 



I might add to this advice a strong recom- 

 mendation never to buy an insect on any pre- 

 text whatever. The principal charm of forming a 



