Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/74

70 many fine specimens of insects to private individuals in Britain, as well as to public museums both here and on the continent. "Abbot's specimens 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 indefatigable in his researches, that he 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 beautifully 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 generally pass as his own. To an experienced eye, however, the originals of the master are readily distinguished. M. Francillon possessed many hundreds, 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 intention of forming two additional volumes to those edited