SCIENCE-GOSSI/' 



73 



TiiK C'oi.i.KcrioN. 



In forming a collcclion of ihc Palacarclic biillcrHies 

 it is cvidcnl ihat ihc process must be vcr> {gradual, 

 and one that reijuircs much pci severance and 

 piuiencc. There are two ways in which specimens 

 may he ac>|uire<l. First and l)est hy actual capture, 

 and secondly by purchase or exchange. It is the 

 fashion with some people to disparage the latter 

 method. 1 have met with those who make it their 

 boast that they have nothing in their collections but 

 what they themselves have taken. This mode of 

 action is both unreasonable and unscientific. We 

 can learn ten times more from the examination of an 

 actual example of a species, than from the most 

 accurate descripticm or figure, but there are few if 

 any who could even in a life-time hope to comp.xss as 

 •ollectors, theentire I'alaearctic Region. Therefore, use 

 every available and legitimate opportunity of acquiring 

 specimens as long .as care is taken to stop short of 

 extravagance in the way of purchase. Many species, 

 such as those from Central .Asia and other places 

 remote and difficult of access, cannot be expected at 

 a small price. It is best, however, to obtain 

 these direct from scientific dealers like Dr. Stau- 

 <linger, of Dresden, or Herr Heyne, of Leip/.ic. 

 It must ever he remembered that a collection 

 of insects is not formed for the mere purposeof amassing 

 a certain number of specimens, as is the aim of many 

 collectors of post.ige stamps and other objects ; but is 

 to be undertaken in a scientific spirit and for the 

 furtherance of zoological observation, for the education 

 of ourselves or of others. Our endeavour should be, 

 therefore, to do the best we can according tn our 

 opportunities, to further this end, but aUv.iys 

 remembering, that a collection is after all, an index 

 to guide us in the pursuit of knowledge. 



As regards exchange of specimens, for my own part 

 I hold that collectors if they would be true entomo- 

 logists should always be ready to assist one another 

 without any mercenary or commercial spirit : and 

 without laying down any hard and fast terms with 

 respect to mutual help. 



Collecting one's own specimens is of course by far 

 the most satisfactory way of making a collection, but 

 if we cannot go to those portions of the I'alaearctic 

 Region which are of difficult access, let us make the 

 most of the opportunities we have. By doing "the 

 work that's nearest," we may often be of nu)re use to 

 the cause of science, than by accumulating a series of 

 specimens when we have not opportunity of observing 

 their natural state, or studying the life history. 



In visiting new localities let all the species 

 observed be carefully noted, and the data 

 entered in writing in a note-book. This should 

 be accompanied by date of capture and locality. 

 It is important to rememlier that because a particular 

 species is common, or even abundant, in a given localit)-, 

 it does not follow we are going to find it equally 

 common, or at all, in other places. Again, we must 

 not pass over species, because they happen to be 

 common in England, when collecting in foreign 



places, a.s some uf uur familiar species often exhibit 

 remarkable modifications in accordance with their 

 surroundings. 



It is advisable not to preserve damaged s|M;cimens. 

 In collecting, if it is found a specimen is faded, or 

 chipped in the wing, at once let it have its freedom. 

 Such specimens are unsightly in a collection, and 

 killing them is mere wantonness. We should not, 

 except in the ca.se of the greatest rarities, admit into 

 the collection such specimens as are damagecl in the 

 wings. The cilia or marginal fringes ought to Ik- 

 perfect, nor should there lie wanting either or Ixjth 

 antennae. Indeed a specimen in which any of the 

 legs are absent cannot be considered perfect. 



Directly the specimen is netted it should be killed. 

 In the case of butterflies, I believe that the old- 

 fashioned method of applying pressure by the finger 

 and thumb to the thorax, is by far preferable to the 

 use of killing bottles or any other method, only it 

 requires care and practice. The specimen should 

 then be pinned at once, and if possible " set " 

 as soon as convenient, before it is dry. If this 

 cannot be done, it should be firmly pinned in a 

 suitable store box until it can be relaxed, and 

 set. As regards preserving specimens in paper 

 envelopes, I am ' now of the opinion that such a 

 method is verv' undesirable unless there is no other 

 alternative, as may happen from the want of proper 

 boxes or pins. At one time I was an advocate for 

 this mode of preservation ; but from experience I 

 find that specimens so treated are very liable to get 

 broken and in any case the bodies must lose their 

 natural roundness and become flattened. Again, a 

 specimen placed in a paper envelope may not be 

 really dead at the time of being enclosed. This is 

 very undesirable, first on the ground of humanity, and 

 secondly because il may struggle for freedom and so 

 be spoilt. 



SKTTtNi;. 



This is of course a matter of taste, but I venture to 

 say that much more than taste is involved in setting 

 specimens. 



The commonly received English method of low 

 setting is completely at variance with that used on 

 the Continent of Europe, and in forming a palaearctic 

 collection involves much trouble and time in resetting 

 specimen.s. The Continental way of setting on high 

 pins of German or .\ustrian manufacture, which may 

 be easily obtained in London or elsewhere, is to be pre- 

 ferred. The specimen should be set half way up the pin 

 upiin a flat board. When this is properlyjdone, with 

 uniform care, the appearance of the collection will be 

 sufficient evidence of the superiority of this method. 

 .\dded to this, specimens so set, especially after being 

 relaxed, are not so liable to " spring " and are less in 

 danger of being attacked by mites than those set in 

 accordance with the common English jmethod. 



In the above remarks I have alluded only to col- 

 lecting butterflies in the imaginal or perfect state 

 because this is, as a rule, the only method that can be 

 employed. Whenever practicable an insect sh.uild Ik- 



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