BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



seem to be for the hungry larvae to have a good supply of 



their natural food-plants, and the acquisition by the 



observer of some knowledge concerning the life and 



habits of the particular species under observation. 



Better to make a beginning with a few commoner examples 



than experiment with rarer forms, for some of these 



insect-folk have an unaccountable habit of refusing food, 



and failure to rear specimens successfully must, at times, 



be expected. One word of warning is necessary. If it is 



desired to make a collection of set specimens for the 



cabinet, it is hoped that only male and female (and 



perhaps a few varieties) of each species will be retained. 



Further specimens than one of each sex take up needless 



space, and if the insect happens to be useful in the 



economy of Nature, or is incapable of perpetrating any 



harm as a pest, it is undue destruction to possess more 



specimens than necessary. More may be reared than 



are required without harm accruing, but on attaining 



the adult state they should be given their liberty so as to 



help perpetuate their race. Two instances for and 



against this collecting mania may be given. In one a 



boy-friend reared fifty Peacock Butterflies, and as these 



emerged and were then given their liberty, the pretty 



sight of so many of these gorgeous insects flitting about 



at the same time and place was as fair a scene as I have 



ever witnessed. Needless to add, the joy experienced 



by the boy who reared them knew no bounds. On the 



other hand, I knew a collector (who was certainly old 



enough to know better), who reared, killed, and set 



hundreds of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells (neither 



of which do any harm as the larvae mostly feed upon 

 2 



