The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16

numbers nearer twenty thousand than six
teen thousand, according TO estimate,
although an actual count has never been
made. Prof. Meyer once set about the task
of counting it but when he reached sixteen
thousand he became wearied and stopped.
Upon his death the collection was sent
by his son. Conrad l.. Meyer, to the Brook
lyn Warehouse and Storage Company for
safe keeping. as he had no accommodation
for so large a collection at his home. There
II has remained since, as Mr.. Meyer has
not offered 1t for sale.
Prof. Meyer and Mr.. Strecker were friends.
and many Of Mr.. Strecker's specimens were
obtained from the professor. The Strecker
collection Is much the larger Of the two,
perhaps twice as large as the Meyer collec-
ton, but is a much more miscellaneous
collection, according to report.
Mr.. Strecker was interested chiefly in
getting together the flies he wanted, and
he would place them wherever it happened
TO be convenient, according 10 a man who
often saw his collection. This served his
purposes Just as we'll as a more orderly
arrangement. because he could put his
finger on any fly he wanted at any time.
.Oh. yes, ] know where that one is" was
his common remark, and he would put his
Singer on 1t in a moment.
Prof. Meyer, on the other hand, collected
with the distinct purpose Of gathering
representatives OF the various families and
groups from their habitations throughout
the world, and he classified his possessions
accordingly. His collection is a marked
example OF scientific order
Three large cabinets are required TO
contain II, and there is an overflow from
them. The cabinets are comprised Of
drawers, each with it's glass sliding cover.
and In these drawers are ranged side by
side and row upon row the butterflies and
moths by families, male and female of each
family, from every part Of the earth.
II a North American fy has a brother in
South America and cousins in Australasia
all his relatives stand there side by side
and group by group, male and female from
the uttermost parts, and at a glance may
be seen the variations In form or color
characteristic of the different environ
ments. In this was Prof. Meyers pride.
and in il is the distinction of his collection
Only comparatively few Of the specimens
Of the collection can be mentioned in a
story OF moderate length, but enough to
indicate the beauty and rarity embodied
In IL, and TO suggest its scientifcinterest
~ ~ flcn III SoulH american speciintts,
partly by reason of the activities OF one of
Prof. Meyers sons. who spent several years
In that continent.
One OF the most exquisite specimens
from the point Of view OF color is the Pdpiio
~ero from Luzon in the Philippines, Of a
rich but subdued tone like the color Of clear
crabapple Jelly or the red OF a ~crabapple
dulled by hosrfrost. II the light is allowed
IN naSa halnu the Uinug pf this Nv thara
becomes apparent in them a delicate reti-
~culation Of veins which emphasizes by
these lines Of deeper hue the beauty Of the
body-color of the wings.
Examples Of the Popiiio euphrdtes from
the Philippines are near by with the Pdpiio
orcesiious of Venezuela next door, a speci-
men Of a Peruvian papilio just beyond
and at one hand the Pdpiho mdciedydnus
from Australia, stunning in green. white
and brown with an underbody OF brighter
hues.
There follow in rapid succession the
beautifg; seal-brown Tdchyris unduidtd
with drah underbody. from New Guinea.
the tiger-striped Eudemd dhtha from
Mindanao in the Philippines, and the milk.
white L~ucophdsid sindpis, with delicate
soft gray spots near the wing ends, which
comes from Europe
Specimens Of the Leonid Janus from
South America have transparent wings
whose delicate traccry of dark veins In
the gauze membrane causes them TO ap.
pear as sllken pinions. And tine Ions
secondarics or extensions of the wings
OF the Syrmdtid dsieris from the same
continent, give the wings the appearance
Of darning needles bodies.
But what a spectacle is unfolded. what a
chromatic vista revealed, upon the open.
Ing Of The drawer OF the Cupido, contain.