Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-22
HAS vERY,LARGE
COLLECTION NOW
CLINTON MAN KEEPS SPECIMEN
ROOM WITH GREAT MANY
BUTTERFLIES.

Clinton Aug. 1a.--"The largest but
terfly collection in the state Is wha
j. s. Faaborg declared when he let
the way into his specimen room am
prepared to give an account OF the
habits and classiflcations of the insect
He exhibited tier after tier Of drawers
filled with butterflies and explained
that it has taken him over thirty years
of work to collect them all. The tota
number Of Individual insects is placed
between 5000 and 10000, and the col
lection embraces specimens from al
parts Of the world. Every continent
and practically every country Is rep
resented at least once.
Two large 'classifications of butter
| flies may be made, the day and night
butterflies. OF the former there are
many classes and some of the more
common kinds are familiar even to
those who know nothing of the study
The larger groups, some species OF
which are found in the state, are
nymphalidae, large and strong, the
lycaenidae, a very small butterfly
papilionidae, diminutive insect, most
Of the kinds yellow, and the hesperi'
doe. The larvae of the pieris rapae
under the papilionidae head, are the
common cabbage eaters. Night but.
terflies are usually classified in four
big divisions: Sphingoidae, saturnoidea
tombycoidea and tineoidea. OF these the
first kind has many colors, but is U.S.
ually recognized by it's straight wings
and it's powerful construction. 1t is
often taken for humming bird If seen
flying by day. The bombycoidea is
the largest kind, some of the greatest
being caught in India. Catocalas are
very common among the noctuidea,
the regular night butterfly, and are OF
very dull colors, resembling bark
1t is interesting to note that in but
terfies the male is usually smaller and
has more brilliant coloring than the
female. the opposite OF what might be
expected. The co1ors of the night but
terflies do not stand the light, and so
it is the day specimens that are gen
orally on display in cases, exposed to
view
In cases in which the insect sought
is Of the same color as the bark of
trees and therefore indistinguishable,
Mr.. Faaborg has a method of catching
it, which he used quite frequently. He
carries with him stick, and this he
rubs up and down the sides Of the
trees until a butterfly is dislodged.
Usually the insect then flies some little
distance to another tree. but is easily
located. 1t Is approached with large
bottle and chloroform. The mouth of
the bottle is placed against the tree
and around the butterfly, and the speci-
men, overcome by the chloroform. falls
back into the bottle. Care is taken
not to leave ma1rS of the frail thiE 20
in the bottle at time, since this would
have the effect of scratching them
They are wrapped in triangular pieces
of paper and placed in small box
carried for the purpose until they may
be mounted and provision made for
their preservation.
Much exchanging Of specimens is
done among collectors all over the
world. Mr.. Faaborg only yesterday
received letter inquiring if he had
certain kinds mentioned. 1t is in this
way that Americans may come in
touch with foreign students Of the
insects, and vice versa Catalogs are
sent, with uniform Technology, for
use Of gatherers all over the world.