NEW ZEALAND BUTTERFLIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 541, 23 June 1909, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND BUTTERFLIES.

.'.■;,; ~A;yALTTABLE COLLECTION. "• - : ',- ! v^ '■:'■:?. ■■'QN: VJEW TO-DAT. j ,:: ,'■: r, : V i, a ?^%J?''Tf i i)' ; -H on view in "the large hall of the Dominion Jlusenm a .collection of Neiy Zealand /butterflies 'and moths made during the : last two;seasons mainly by the -Dimo.tor: (Alr.-A.. Hnmilton),. ■ and bv■ Mesw? IT Hamilton and.l\.Oliver, who were employed for .some time collecting .in>the;Wakntipu district/ ■Ihe collcotipn.-has. been: considerably increased by the acquisition of.ono which was formed nrOtago and Southland by Mr. G. Howes, while other naturalists in various parts of, the Dominion' ,have- also'/eent, contributions/. The main luea-of the collection is somewhat different fropi that of the ordinary, collections made bv amateurs,, who are .usually content with from four to six'specimens of each species.: In view of, .the great .variability of New ■, Zealand species, it has been, considered that the series of specimens of each species' in the. museum collection should be an extended one, so that V. ■ provide • material for the study -of the', limitation, and variation of : the species. ' It is also regarded ai advantageous to have 'snecimens from various localities and different altitudes, and special attention has, accordingly been paid during the last two seasons to col-* lecting at elevations between 2000 - and 4000 feat l\-! le Vakn t>Pn' wgiqn; Very interesting exhibita in consequence, obtained. Hitherto only two of the main groups have been specially eought for, but fatcr ori, if opportunity offers, the collection will be made more inclusive.', .. •• ':■■■■■-'■'■ .•::■■."... . • The specimens will only bo on view for-two cloys,: OS', even a short, exposure to ..the sunlight: is detrimental to their colour. If however,, anyone desires especially to consult the collection, it will at all times be available on application: to the '■ pirector." The number of specimens in tho drawers is between 5000 and 6000. Tliero are still two or three species that are not yet represented in the collection, but on tho other hand, it includes at least four species .which have not yet been described and there are no fewer than M specimens of a certain rare .species which has hitherto been represented in collections by one solitary specimen..- ■ "■;•: ■■''■:.■•.'.;■:. :'. :/..:.■:■..... .-'