INTRODUCTION. 73 
race that, subsisting entirely on hunting and fishing, 
must often be reduced to great straits*. 
These insects were, no doubt, the first that at- 
tracted the attention of naturalists, in consequence 
of their imposing appearance and striking metamor- 
phoses. Collections of them began to be made at 
an early time, and were valued not only by the 
lover of nature, but by those who had no farther or 
more worthy design in view than to possess them 
as objects highly ornamental. Very extensive col- 
lections exist in nearly all the principal cities and 
museums of Europe ; and many are to be found 
throughout Britain, not only belonging to public 
institutions for promoting natural history, but also 
in the possession of private individuals. One of the 
best conditioned collections of exotic lepidoptera in 
this country, is that in the possession of the East 
India Company, made in Java by Dr. Horsfield. 
As the method followed by that gentleman for pre- 
serving his specimens was attended with great suc- 
cess, the following account of it will be interesting 
and useful to those who have opportunities of mak- 
ing collections in foreign countries : — “ During the 
inquiries I made,” says Dr. Horsfield, “ in the early 
part of my residence in Java, to become acquainted 
with the best methods for securing what I obtained 
in my excursions, I noticed the plan described by 
Le Vaillant in his Travels in Africa, for the preser- 
vation of entomological collections. It is the fol- 
lowing : — Boxes or chests carefully made of light 
* 13riclg. Treat, ii. 350. 
