70 INTRODUCTION. 



mitted many fine specimens of insects to private 

 individuals in Britain, as well as to public museums 

 both here and on the continent. " Abbot's speci- 

 mens were certainly the finest that have ever been 

 transmitted as articles of commerce to this country ; 

 they were always sent home expanded, even the 

 most minute ; and he was so watchful and indefatig- 

 able in his researches, that he contrived to breed 

 nearly the whole of the Lepidoptera. His general 

 price for a boxful was sixpence each specimen ; 

 which was certainly not too much, considering the 

 beauty and high perfection of all the individuals. 

 Abbot, however, was not a mere collector. Every 

 moment of time he could possibly devote from his 

 field researches, was employed in making finished 

 drawings of the larva, pupa, and perfect insect of 

 every lepidopterous species, as well as of the plant 

 upon which it fed. These drawings are so beauti- 

 fully chaste and wonderfully correct, that they were 

 coveted by every one. So many, in fact, applied for 

 them both in Europe and America, that he found it 

 expedient to employ one or two assistants, whose 

 copies he retouched ; and, thus finished, they gene- 

 rally pass as his own. To an experienced eye, 

 however, the originals of the master are readily 

 distinguished. M. Francillon possessed many hun- 

 dreds, but we know not into whose hands they 

 have now passed. Another series of one hundred 

 and three subjects, not included in that which has 

 been published, was executed for us, with the inten- 

 tion of forming two additional volumes to those edited 



