10 
A Discussion on the ‘‘ Protection of Insects in Danger of 
Extermination.” 
Opened by C. G. Barrett, F.E.S. March 11th, 1897. 
Mr. Barrett, in introducing the subject, said that great indignation 
had been excited among entomologists in many parts of this country 
by the rapacity exhibited by a number of collectors who had in the 
past year assembled in the newly discovered locality in North Corn- 
wall for Polyommatus (Lycena) arion, where, according to reports 
received, 500 to 700 specimens had been taken by single collectors, 
and it was computed that between 2000 and 3000 specimens of this 
local species had been destroyed. 
Some remarks upon the subject by Mr. R. McLachlan, F.R.S., 
made before the Entomological Society of London, had introduced 
the question of the probable early extermination of this and other 
exceptionally local species, and in the hope of finding a remedy that 
Society had appointed a representative committee for the purpose of 
obtaining evidence and recommending such measures as should be 
deemed desirable with a view to the protection of threatened species. 
He had been requested to act as secretary, and the first work had 
been to obtain information and suggestions from kindred societies 
and individual entomologists. In so doing they had received ex- 
pressions of strong sympathy with their object, and evidence of 
extreme indignation at the proceedings of the more rapacious col- 
lectors, and at the same time hearty promises of assistance. 
The committee, after several meetings and very careful considera- 
tion of the evidence and suggestions received, had come fully to the 
conclusion that any attempt to act through the legislature would be 
futile, and their unanimous opinion was that the only effectual 
method of influencing collectors was by means of a strong and 
healthy public opinion and personal influence. ‘To this end their 
efforts were directed, and in this respect they desired to secure the 
co-operation of this Society. 
The President, Mr. R. Adkin, said that he considered the matter 
was a most important one, and he hoped that the members would 
freely express their views upon the subject. 
Mr. Auld called attention to the absolutely unnecessary and wanton 
habit of some collectors to take every specimen, whether worn or 
not, which they came across, with the result that the worn ones were 
killed, only to be thrown away. He remarked how much better it 
was from an educational point of view that species should be bred 
from the ova, as collectors then acquired a knowledge of the life- 
history of species, and became truly students of nature. 
Mr. Carpenter thought that it was not always the collector who 
