1890. 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



119 



MR. VAUGHAN'S COLLECTION. 



The sale of Mr. Vaughan's Collection has been one of the more 

 important events of the spring. It had been formed with great care 

 and judgment, and was wonderfully rich in varieties and local forms. 

 An idea of its extent may be formed from the fact that it contained 

 about 400 carefully selected specimens of Cidaria nissata and immanata, 

 and close upon 1000 of Peronea cvistana and hastiana. The importance 

 of the sale attracted others than British collectors, and Doncaster and 

 other dealers holding unlimited commissions from Rothschild, Oberthur 

 and others, the best varieties were sold at unprecedented prices. The 

 highest price given for a single insect was fifteen guineas for a speci- 

 men of Arctia caja, the fore wings of this specimen being nearly white, 

 and the hind wings without any black spots. A second pale variety 

 brought £10 1 os. od. and a similar price was given for a fine dark 

 pair, one of them being " smoky." 



A hermaphrodite specimen of Edasa, with the right side and 

 portion of left hind wing female, also brought £10 10s. od. One with 

 forewings Helice, and hind wings normal, and another with the right 

 side Helice and left side normal brought £10 os. od. each, as did an- 

 other lot of the same species. Similar prices were realized for lot 24 

 containing an extraordinary variety of Aglaia ; for lot 33 with 35 

 varieties of UrticcB and Io ; for lot 38, including a fine variety of 

 Atalanta; and lot 39, including a remarkable variety of Cavdui. The 

 varieties of other species did not bring such high figures. A fine 

 series of Grossulariata (lot 382), one with deep black band through all 

 the wings, and rayed towards the margin, another black with a white 

 band and six other fine forms produced £\ 10s. od.; but other three 

 similar lots only averaged half this price, and lots 384 to 389, including 

 from 15 to 17 varieties each, only realized from 6/- to 11/6 per lot. 

 Good prices were also obtained for lot 61. "A very large female variety 

 of Dispav" which brought £6 10s. od. and lot 323 " Ntipta, fine 

 variety, right f.w. with portion of colouring of h.w." £\ os. od. 

 About 60 Phlczas including several good varieties produced nearly £5. 

 Some 150 Cory don and Adonis including many fine varieties realized 

 £g 12s. od. But after mentioning the more extraordinary forms, very 

 good varieties only produced moderate prices. Thus lot 11 and 12 

 Edusa including 4 and 5 Helice, each with two lemon coloured varieties 



