﻿D E D I CAT I O N 



ii 



The First Volume of this monograph having been dedicated to the late Professor Westwood, I have now the 

 pleasure of inscribing the second volume to another deservedly distinguished naturalist. 



The Hon. Walter Rothschild is, we must all admit, a naturalist in the truest acceptation of the term. A man 

 of many occupations and interests, every moment of whose time must be valuable to himself and others, he ever finds 

 opportunities for the study of God's creations, living and dead ; and whilst he is an accomplished Lepidopterist and 

 Ornithologist, his interests are not entirely confined to these two subjects, as his splendid museum and the living 

 creatures in Tring Park fully demonstrate. His unusual resources are employed in wise and noble ways, and he does 

 not live unto himself. Any student of zoological science, whether English or Cosmopolitan, is always welcome to avail 

 himself of the advantages of a study of the multitudinous treasures which find a home in the splendid museum which 

 Mr. Rothschild has founded at Tring, in Hertfordshire. Speaking personally, I can heartily testify to the kindly and 

 helpful interest which he has always taken in this work of mine. Every species of Troides that I have specified my 

 need of, has been in the most genial way at once placed at my disposal, and I have often had in my possession for 

 months at a time a considerable number of his rarest and most valuable treasures, using them as freely as if they were 

 my own. Without such a privilege, not to mention other kindnesses, my difficulties in bringing this work to an approxi- 

 mately successful issue, would have been infinitely greater than they have been. 



No one in the world possesses such a nearly complete collection of Ornithoptera as Mr. Rothschild has been able 

 to bring together at Tring. Three years ago he estimated his examples of this tribe of Papilionidse to number over 

 4,000, including nearly all the known species, sub-species, varieties and aberrations : since then this number has been 

 considerably augmented. Some slight conception of the wealth of the Tring Museum may be obtained, when I say 

 that at the same period there were over one million specimens of moths waiting to be set, and probably double that 

 number of Lepidoptera incorporated in the collections. The insects of all orders exhibited to the general public are 

 numerous, and instructively arranged. In his great Bird room (a student's room really) are more than 175,000 skins, 

 contained in cabinets fitted into the walls and recesses from floor to ceiling, and in the general area of the room. 

 These skins represent pretty well all the birds of the world, generally in the most perfect condition, and often with long 

 series of the most magnificent species of birds of paradise and other groups conspicuous for their marvellous beauty. 

 The zoological specimens of the vertebrates, to which the general public have access, are so arranged as to occupy 

 the least possible space, consistent with the most useful and instructive display of their many features of interest : 

 not only floors and galleries, but even the ceilings being utilised. In a room chiefly devoted to the antelopes may 

 be found examples of all but two of the known species. The Museum also contains a wonderful zoological library, 

 and many magnificent and characteristic photographs, immensely enlarged. Indeed the whole establishment, with 

 its two learned assistant curators is such an enterprise as no other private gentleman has ever achieved or attempted. 



Mr. Rothschild is himself a very learned and enthusiastic zoologist, and is well acquainted with the subjects in 

 which he takes so deep an interest. For some years he has conducted and edited his Novitates Zoologicce, of which, up 

 to the present time, more than 16 large volumes have been published, many of them beautifully illustrated with mono- 

 graphs and papers from his own pen, and others in collaboration with Dr. Karl Jordan and Dr. Carte, in addition to 

 papers and butterflies by Mr. Grose-Smith. 



Such men as Mr. Rothschild do much to make the world richer and wiser for their presence in it. May it be 

 many a long year before his shadow grows less, if it be the will of God in His wisdom. 



Loving the works of the Creator as I do, and those who take an intelligent and practical interest in them, I speak 

 of the subject of this dedication with a sincere and heartfelt enthusiasm. Mr. Rothschild is a man I delight to honour, 

 infinitely more, I am certain, than King Ahasuerus delighted to honour Mordecai. He will therefore, I hope, accept 

 this dedication as a small tribute of regard and respect. 



ROBERT H. F. RIPPON. 



September, 1907. 



