PICTORIAL GROUPS OF BUTTERFLIES, ETC. 409 



A verj' beautiful object is the lime, Tilia europce, to exhibit 

 as the food-plant of the lime hawk-moth, Smerinthus tilice; and, 

 so far as is known, the lime-branch in flower, now in the 

 Leicester Museum, is the first one executed in which size and 

 detail are so great. 



Another is the larva of the goat-moth, Cossus ligniperda, 

 executed in the same materials, and this .may be displayed on 

 a stump (modelled) of elm or willow — the latter being the 

 prettiest — and showing a few twigs with leaves. The cater- 

 pillar may be placed crawling on the wood, whilst another is 

 just emerging from a hole ; the pupa-case may be shown pro- 

 jecting from another hole, and the moth itself may be sus- 

 pended as if drying its wings, whilst another is in full flight. 

 Hundreds of other instances might be given, but these few will, 

 no doubt, suggest others to the ingenious modeller. 



The mounting of a group of exotic butterflies, say those of the 

 genus Morpho, with characteristic South American orchids and 

 other plants is by no means a new idea, having been executed 

 by Mr. Ashmead, the London taxidermist, and is one which 

 museums might well copy. What South Kensington has done 

 in this way is the very valuable case standing in the entrance- 

 hall and depicting mimicry, where the Indian butterflies, 

 Kallima inachis, af rest upon dead leaves, so exactly simulate 

 the latter in the general colour of their under surfaces and in 

 their pattern, as to be discovered with difficulty. Other cases 

 are in preparation, and will no doubt be as well managed. 



Many others of the insecta, and, indeed, of the inverte- 

 brata, can be mounted with a due regard to their natural 

 surroundings, but probably the foregoing list is full enough, 

 and will bring the pupil to a consideration of the cases and 

 mounts in general use, and of others designed to meet special 

 requirements, with a view to the selection of the most suitable 

 receptacle for the finished specimen or group. 



