INDIAN BUTTERFLIES IN THE TRURO MUSEUM. 391 



flies collected by him, giving the dates when they were first 

 described as new to science by different lepidopterists, and shew 

 by the date of deposition with us their claim to priority. 

 This I think is due to his memory, and is our duty. 



Such a list, with an added plate of the descriptive parts of 

 a butterfly, a scientific diagnosis of each family and sub-family, 

 notes on the generic and specific habits together with the localities, 

 so far as we can learn, where General Jenkins collected them, 

 would make a delightful guide-book to one part of our Museum 

 For, popularly, a collection of British butterflies is a strong 

 attraction in a Museum, and an Indian collection is much more so. 

 It has been well said that India is the land of butterflies ; the 

 warm valleys especially swarm with butterfly and other insect 

 forms, their beauty dazzles us, and the blending of almost 

 indescribable colours and unique designs make their study most 

 fascinating. I have often mourned that better care had not been 

 shewn the collection, for the bright sunshine has robbed the 

 butterflies sadly of their delicate tints. Still the Society may be 

 congratulated, for by additions by purchase, by the generous 

 gift of two cases by Mr. Edmund Eundle, F.E.C.S., one of our 

 members of Council, and by the kindness of the Rev. Walter 

 A. Hamilton, our collection is likely in the course of a few 

 months to be numerically strong in genera and species of recently 

 captured butterflies, so that we shall turn the collection, as it 

 were, back for half a century, and realize again the beauty and 

 inestimable value of those sent by General Jenkins. 



The issue of a guide to these butterflies, on the lines I have 

 described, will have to be deferred until they are arranged in 

 the cases in the Museum. The major part of the manuscript 

 relating to their classification with descriptions of generic and 

 specific habits, I have already written. Of some of the forms I 

 cannot gain yet any information as to precise position, but 

 articles and books on Indian Butterflies are being so rapidly 

 issued — the subject occupying now the attention of some of our 

 cleverest entomologists, that this difficulty need not, I trust, 

 unnecessarily delay its issue when the butterflies are laid out. 

 The delay, too, will enable new species which are now being 

 added to the collection to be described in the guide. 



