63 



Forest for Apatura iris, Argynnis valesina, etc., the Fens 

 for many species, Cornwall for Lyccena avion, the Isle of Man 

 for Dianthcecia cccsia, and so I might go on indefinitely. It 

 is the spirit of the chase which draws us, and it is often the 

 guidance and direction of one of our entomological friends 

 and fellow-members which puts us on the right track. How 

 delighted we feel when, having carefully followed up the clue, 

 our eyes are gladdened with the sight of our quarry, seen 

 for the first time in its native haunts ! I well remember 

 many such incidents, but I might give as an example a trip 

 undertaken a few years ago after the larvae of Callimorpha 

 dominula. We had asked a former occupant of this chair 

 when and where we should go, and he said he would look up 

 his diary and give us the exact data. This was soon forth- 

 coming, with a graphic map on which was marked, on a 

 certain spot, " Here is C. dominula'' ! 



Having taken train to the nearest station, we followed the 

 route shown for some miles until we reached this spot. It 

 was dark by this time, but turning our lanterns on the 

 herbage around, there they were, C. dominula by the score. 



As our friend's record was many years old it was a striking 

 proof of how attached a species may be to a certain 

 narrow area. As this locality for the species is well known 

 to many collectors, there is no doubt that a heavy toll is 

 levied annually on the species, notwithstanding which it is 

 extremely abundant there, and last year I know that large 

 numbers were taken. 



It is sometimes difficult to recall what first led us to 

 commence studying insects. It may have been the sight 

 of a friend's collection, or coming in contact with some 

 enthusiastic collector from whom we have caught the fever. 



Many start collecting at school, and stamps, butterflies, 

 rabbits, birds' eggs, etc., pass in more or less rapid succession 

 through their hands. These fancies of the schoolboy may 

 die out, but it is a poor lost soul who retains no hobby on 

 which to ride in hours of leisure. 



Instances will occur to all of you of those who have taken 

 up entomology in their boyhood's days, to whom it has been 

 a lifelong pleasure, and who only gave it up when they 

 themselves were laid to rest. 



I have said that the attraction for all of us is that it gives 

 us pleasure, and the pleasure we get may be derived in very 

 different ways. To some it lies in the hunting for and 

 securing as many species as possible to fill our cabinets. 



