180 COUNTESS OF WARWICK'S RECEPTION.
Mr. Charles G. Barrett (Hon. Sec. to the Committee of the Entomo-
logical Society for the Protection of Insects in danger of Extermination),
introduced the subject of the destruction by over-collecting of some of the most
local species of British Lepidoptera. He instanced the raid, last year, upon
the newly discovered locality for Polyommatus arion (the "Large Blue
Butterfly") in Cornwall, where more than 2,660 specimens are estimated to
have been destroyed, single collectors in one or two cases taking from 500 to
700 each. This had not been with any intention of making butterfly pictures
like those of the Spitalfields weavers, nor on the other hand with any idea of
liberally distributing specimens to those entomologists who had no oppor-
tunity of visiting the locality, but solely for the purpose of exchange by
the modern "basket" system probably, and of hoarding away in the hope
that the species would again become rare and of a high money value. The
cases of Melitaea athalia, formerly a well-known Essex species, but now nearly
or quite extinct ; and of Apatura iris, which had been destroyed in some of its
haunts by systematic and combined efforts of collectors, were also cited.
So great a public feeling of indignation had been aroused by these and
similar outrages that the Entomological Society of London had appointed a
Committee to consider what means should be taken for dealing with the
subject. This Committee, after careful deliberation, had come to the con-
clusion that legislation for any such purpose is not at present within the
range of practical work ; but that something might be done by bringing to a
focus the general feeding of indignation at the outrageous greediness of a
certain class of collectors, and for this purpose they had drawn up a Memo-
randum of Agreement whereby members bound themselves not only to the
practice of moderation in their own collecting and care that they should do
nothing likely to tend towards the extermination of rare insects, but also
to the exercise of their influence over others in the same direction.
This Memorandum (of which the following is a copy) had been adopted
and extensively signed by the principal Entomological Societies in London
and the provinces, and it was earnestly hoped that by this means the
extermination of those species which were in no way injurious to agriculture,
but which, being on the extreme verge in these islands of their natural range,
and therefore able to exist only in the most favourable spots, might be
prevented :—
" Memorandum of Association for the Protection of Insects
in Danger of Extermination.
" We, the undersigned, being desirous of protecting from extermination
those rare and local species of insects which are not injurious to agriculture
nor to manufactures, do hereby agree by our example, and by the exercise of
our influence over others, to discourage the excessive collecting and destruc-
tion of those species of insects which from their peculiar habits or limited
range are in danger of extermination in the United Kingdom.
" We further agree to accept for the purposes of this Association such
list of species in need of protection as shall be drawn up, and if necessary
from time to time amended by the Committee of the Entomological Society
of London appointed to that end."