, 1888-09-20
HIS 10000 SPECIMENS.
The GREATEST ENTOMOLOGlST IN
THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

i Collection OF lt1Tc 1HSects-ButJefLIes
and LepidopteraI Curiosfties Without
End-A butterfly with 'SS" On Its
wfnSs-Thc Dead Leaf.
The most eminent authority on butter
flles AMI moths in America is Herman
Strgckcr Pin D., Of Reading, Pa. He is
the one man who has made this place
familiar to scientists in every known quar-
ter Of the globe. He inherited his fond
ness for scientific studies, and cyinccd
tins inclination AZ a very early age. The
great repository of this lepidopteral col
iacIion j. in fine threg-StoTy brick man
sion. with skylights, und built in the
shady suburbs of the city. Up two flights
Of stairs ard we have entered into Il room
where the largest and rarest collection of
hiltTfIie5 in America is depOsited-over
se,sney thousand different specimens.
Here our distinguished eutomologist is
happy. 1t is night, and the shutters are
thrown wide open; during the day they
are barred, for sunlight soon affects the
IuStcr of his treasures.
On the north side of the wall pine case
is placed, looking much like the arrange
mcntS of a large post office. We are told
that that is the filed correspondence of all
the distinguished scientists of entOmolOgi-
cal fame in this and foreign countries,
covering thirty years. The world is laid
under tribute by this man of artistic ge-
MUS and scientific research to gain the
newest and best information of butterflies
and moths in every corner of the globe
FORTY YEARS OF LABOR.
This collection of insects was forty years
III gathering, and in the work more than
twenty thousand dollars have been eX-
pended. Some of the specimens cost 500,
several $50 and $50, and scores of them
So and SO. There is no private or public
collection i'll all his western hemisphere
that can equal it. The London museum
has 4 somewhat larger collection, but in
order and rarity of arranged specimens
this private collection would not be ex-
changed for two of England's kind, and
for none in the entire world. If fire should
sweep it up, something in America would
have been destroyed that no century could
replace. The butterflies might be had
if the entomolOgist should just happen to
be born and be also endowed with perse-
vcrance and blessed with capital for the
task.
There is no country, no climate, no al
titude, no solitude that has not been pene-
trated for the odd and beautiful specimens
of butterflies here gathered. Some are as
tiny us u musquitO, and others as large rs
q half fledged pigeon. The owl moth of
Brazil measures n foot across the wings.
Where do they come from, these many
different little creatures? When the
second Ross expedition was made in search
Of northwest passage in 1929 u new
species of colias, afterwards called boot
hi, was found in a few specimens, the
only ones known to this day, one of which
came later into possession of Strecker's
collection. 1t is the only sample of the
species in America. Three of the great
papilio antimachus, from equatorial
Africa, can be seen here. Only about q
dozen are known. Suites of the golden
croesus and lydius from Halmeheira the
curious Parnassus butterflies from $4,000
feet elevation in the Himalayas and other
mountains; the enormous cossus from
Australia, which are eaten by the natives;
the gorgeous rhaipheus flies from NADIA
gascGr without q rival in matchless colors.
Then come monster curicsities, half male
and half female; those of one wing, partly
of one sex and partly of another sex; al
binoS, hybrids, melanos and extra winged
and other freaks. Indians, Esquimaux,
explorers, travellers and missionaries
have all helped to this wonderful collec-
tion of butterflies.
MANY CURIOUS SPECIMENS.
Among the curious specimens may be
mentioned the ''bec MOTH" so named from
its exact resemblance to the bee or wasp.
He is very counterfeit of the honey
making insect. What freak is the
Oiketicus pairi The female has no wings,
no legs, never sees light nor takes food.
The winged gentleman goeth as he pleaseth.
Then look at the eccentric resemblance of
the "anchor moth" On the creamy buff
color black anchor is marked, like tat
tooed arm with the tar symbol. Here also
s q resident of the Amazon river forests,
known to the natives as '1eighty-eights,
because of the figures IS marked on the
Nilvery white ground Of the under side of
Is hind wings Then there is the curious
no th from Sierra Leone, in West Africa,
Sno In as the "Argus moth.n 1t is re-
narkf,blo for the unparalleled length of
,hc tauS of the hind wings in the male.
Then there is the world famed ''dead leaf
Of China, India and the Pacific
Islands. When the wings are open it has
, surface of grayish blue crossed by an
u ange band; but when closed, as the
mi, ,lal is ut rest, the resemblance to
lead leaf is perfect. The day butterflies
lumber 5000 species; the night flies are
ZEN times n-i many.
To attempt q leScrlptlOl OF inc DEVIL
lering effect as case after case is drawn
,ut from its hiding and samples of the TO-
BOO specimens arc displayed under the gas
light is simply futile. The endless variety
Of their forms, the gorgeousnass of their
dress, have no equal among
any living thing of the domain of nature.
What Is pretty in emerald or sapphire,
what is brilliant in diamond or ruby, what
Is rich in plume of bird or leaf of flower,
what is glorious in rainbow or sunset-al
can be found in this array Of insect ere.
alton dazzling, glistening, gayl.F disport-
ing under the flash of light
The process of preserving tn m is also
an art, and a somewhat tedi Gus task.
They are sent from distant entOmologists
In labeled paper wraps, secured in boxes.
They are in no shape; they m ust be put
into u wooden press of particular design,
must be poised on pins and rendered plia-
able in q moist sand jar and then be ar
ranged with mathematical precision in
their respective cases. Exchanges arc
made by the lepidopterists the world over,
which go the rounds, and specimens Of
Insects are given and taken as the collec-
tions may lack kinds. Cocoons even are
received from distant lands and are nursed
into life year afterwards. Pa.)
Cor New York World.
Tho Only Honest Way.