INTRODUCTION. 
70 
mitted many fine specimens of insects to private 
individuals in Britain, as well as to public museums 
both here and on the continent. “ Abbot’s speci- 
mens were certainly the finest that have ever been 
transmitted as articles of commerce to this country ; 
they were always sent home expanded, even the 
most minute ; and he was so watchful and indefatig- 
able in his researches, that ho contrived to breed 
nearly the whole of the Lepidoptera. His general 
price for a boxful was sixpence each specimen ; 
which was certainly not too much, considering the 
beauty and high perfection of all the individuals. 
Abbot, however, was not a mere collector. Every 
moment of time he could possibly devote from his 
field researches, was employed in making finished 
drawings of the larva, pupa, and perfect insect of 
every lepidopterous species, as well as of the plant 
upon which it fed. These drawings are so beauti- 
fully chaste and wonderfully correct, that they were 
coveted by every one. So many, in fact, applied for 
them both in Europe and America, that he found it 
expedient to employ one or two assistants, whose 
copies he retouched ; and, thus finished, they gene- 
rally pass as his own. To an experienced eye, 
however, the originals of the master are readily 
distinguished. M. Francillon possessed many hun- 
dreds, but we know not into whose hands they 
have now passed. Another series of one hundred 
and three subjects, not included in that which has 
been published, was executed for us, with the inten- 
tion of forming two additional volumes to those edited 
