126 THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



|_JUNE 



cognised continental classification, and contained many changes of 

 generic and other names. The species are numbered throughout ; 

 but Mr. Rye complains of " the entire omission in the great majority 

 of instances, and the extreme abbreviations in others, of the authors 

 of species, which cannot fail to militate severely against its useful- 

 ness." He also thinks that " after a time species new to us will much 

 less frequently occur, and our attention must be directed to synonymic 

 matters. As it is, thanks mainly to Mr. Crotch's exertions, we have 

 rather more of these latter than is required at the present j 'tincture." 



The Buckler Collection. 



We have always held a very strong opinion that the Buckler col- 

 lection ought to be the property of the Nation. Its value consists, not 

 in the rarity of the species contained in it, nor because numerous fine 

 varieties are included ; both these advantages may appertain to it, but 

 it has an exceptional value far above these, that belongs to no other 

 collection in the world. For a quarter of a century the late William 

 Buckler devoted himself to figuring, and latterly to describing the 

 larvae of British Lepidoptera. Being a miniature painter by profession 

 he was eminently qualified for the work he had undertaken. These 

 figures are now being published by the Ray Society, and as the collec- 

 tion contains the identical specimens reared from the larvae so figured, 

 the figures and collection combined may always be referred to with 

 authority as being British. 



This collection was left by will to Robert Newbury, Esq., Manor 

 Lodge, Feltham, Middlesex, with whose brother Mr. Buckler had lived 

 for many years, at Lumley Mills, Emsworth. This gentleman recently 

 offered to present the entire collection to the British Museum, and the 

 proposed gift has now been accepted, as the following letter shows : — 



British Museum (Natural History), 



Cromwell Road, London, S.W., 



April 2nd, 1889. 



Dear Sir, — I had the pleasure of laying before the Trustees of the 

 British Museum, at their last meeting here, a report by Dr. Giinther of 

 your gift to the Museum of the very valuable collection of British Lepidop- 

 tera formed by the late Mr. William Buckler. 



The Collection was submitted for the inspection of the Trustees, and 

 they were informed that it consists of more than 6300 well-preserved speci- 

 mens, all named, and including a great number of rare varieties ; and that 

 you were also good enough to present the cabinet in which the collection 

 is contained. 



