Butterflies [antikvár]

Introduction ' ii This is a book for butterfly-watchers. Butterflies are among the most colourful animals of the countryside and have attracted the attention of collectors for centuries. Although conservationists may argue the merits or demerits of collecting, there is no doubt that through the activities of collectors a great deal has been learnt about the butterfly. While collecting has a place in their study, and butterflies are attractive as pinned specimens in a box, they are even more beautiful when adding their living colours to our environment. Not so long ago, the only way to study birds was to shoot them, but today they are protected in many countries and with the improvement in field guides and binoculars there is no need to kill them. Similarly, collecting butterflies is one way to study them and is still very popular. Little harm is done by collecting the commonerspecies and many collectors rearthe caterpillars, releasing butterflies which are surplus to their col lection. However, butterfly-watching requires little more skill than catching them and the quarry can always be photographed. There are many species still to be photographed in their natural surroundings even in Europe. Destruction of the habitat by draining swamps or clearing forests is far more likely to cause extinction than a few avid collectors, but it is the combination of habitat destruction and collectors that can be fatal to small populations of butterflies. Drainage and forest clearance are essential features of human habitation in an area and both are necessary. However, ecological management can usually avoid total destruction of a region, and not only helps to preserve the butterflies but also allows man to live and grow food in the area; he does not need, nor can he afford, to'alienate himself totally from his environment. Butterfly-watching, like birdwatching, can either be an energetic or a restful pursuit. As more is known about the habits of butterflies it is realized that they have their own territories and patterns of behaviour which contradict their apparent 'lazy ways on summer days', and thus butterfly-watching can be a most rewarding pastime affording a glimpse into their lives. It has to be remembered too that butterflies are creatures whose main activities are carried out during the daylight hours and particularly on warmer summer days when they are especially active. The butterfly-watcher, unlike the birdwatcher, has no need to make a frozen vigil on an icy wind-swept shore! However, the energetic can still pursue their studies over mountains and in far-away places, but even there they will have more success in sunny weather. Carefulstudy of butterflies soon enables recognition of the commoner species and discrepancies can be noted when a different butterfly is found. Later, the more difficult species can be attempted, just as the birdwatcher starts with common and more conspicuous species before trying to recognize the warblers or wading birds. This book should enable identification of many of the commoner butterflies of northern and western Europe and all those found in the British Isles arranged with the related, and usually similar species, in sequence. To identify a butterfly, just study the illustrations, later try the text for the salient features. 6