A Great Tortoiseshell In the neighbourhood of Andover a gardener
who acquired as great a fancy for butterflies as flowers—and both are the proper attributes of a garden—planted a number of bushes of Buddleia rariabilis with the primary object of attracting butterflies. The lure has earned good dividends, and the other day brought what he regards as the most desirable sort of bonus : a greater tortoiseshell. .This is the second that I have evidence of this year. The species is not supposed to be very rare, but it apparently grows rarer and rarer. Personally I have not seen one for years, though the lesser tortoiseshell has become the very commonest of all the autumn butterflies. It is an odd contrast that the collectors of birds and their eggs diminish the supply, while the collectors of butterflies are too apt to increase it. Their not uncommon device is to lay down eggs or pupae procured from abroad, and catch the butterflies as soon as they hatch, claiming them as caught in Britain. This, of course, is only done with the more precious sorts. Butterflies are also being increased in some of the sanctuaries, especially Wicken Fen, where the host plant of the Great Copper is greatly flourishing.
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