The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-27
VARIETIES OF BU7TrRFL1Es.
Largest Private Collection fin America
 Numbers 7,SOO-Owned in St. V.0ufa. IL

Numbers 7,SOO-0wned in St.
 Louis. St. Louis Globe Democrat. .
 A St. Louis man. Frank Schwarz, has the largest and finest private collection of moths, butterflies and insects in the United States.
 The foundation of Mir. Schwarzs great collection of insects was laid nearly forty-seven years ago. when his father, a native of Switzerland, com menced collecting the rare specimens of insect life among the Alps. When MT. Schwarz was only a boy he took great interest in the collection of in- sects and the study of them from a scientific standpoint. He is today still collecting rare speciments and adding to his collection whenever opportuni- ty presents. ~~--.~ -a- The collection at tho present time consists of about 27,500 varieties gath cred from the four winds of the earth. | From the Apollo Of the Swiss Alps to | the Morpho cypris, the beautiful phos- porescent green and blue butterfly of the Amazon river district of tropical Brazil. there are but few species not represented P. -~-:.. Among the collection are many | strange and curious freaks of nature, chiefly as regards tho colorings and | markings on the wings and backs of the moths and butterflies. Perhaps the most peculiar freak in this line Is not cd in the great moth scientifically known as Caliyo beltrao, a native of 1 old Mexico. This moth has been call ed the owlhead moth. for the reason | that the markings on the wings and body so much resembles the head of a great horned owl that they are often 1 mistaken for them when seen clinginE to the bark of trees. The head Is not apparent until the moth is turned head downward. when the two great spots on the wings and the dark markings close to the body form a perfect pie | ture of the owl head, nor is this all 1 Collectors claim that as soon as thIs moth alights op the bark of tree 1t immediately reverses and rests head downward.
 Another of these Is the snake head moth. This is one of the largest of the moth family. one being nine inches ing the moth with the hand. allowing just the tip of the wing to protrude the likeness displayed to a snakes head is startling.
 Another is the death head" moth This one is a native of European coun- tries and bears on It's back an almost perfect picture of the death head
 The Apollo" of the Swiss Alps is of more or less interest to Americans on account of It's striking likeness to a butterfly found in this country. The Apollo is found only among the Alps of Switzerland, but there Is a butter fly found among the Rocky Mountains only in Utah. known as "the Schma- nuts." which is like the Swiss, except in size. In form. habits and eoloring they are indentical.
 Another very beautiful butterfly that Mir. Schwarz prizes highly is a large black and red Insect from the Philip pines. This specimen is known aE | "Paph, aristeles." and. while 1t is l quite common in the Philippine Islands 1t is rare among collectors in this coun- try at the present time.
 There are two public collections larger than that of MT. schwarz. One of these, comprising nearly 35,000 speci- | mems, is in the Smithsonian Institution. and is said to be the most complete fin | the world. while that at Central Park. in New York City, ranks second, with nearly as many specimens as the for | mer.
 Moths. and butterfiies.' said MT. IaehMaS& 'iAra never sold, oxcsnt ano