Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

THE LEPIDOPTERA , THEIR HABITS AND TASTES . ]\ luch as we have already learned about the habits and tastes ot butterfl ' es and moths , there seems still much more to be taught us from the open hook of nature . Every collector or entomologist is aware how very local many species are wont to be . Although the food plant may abound in ver y nook and corner of a country , and , to all appearances , every necesarv condition for some insect's life is fulfilled , yet nowhsre can this same

insect be found except , perhaps , in a space a few yards square . Quite a flutter was produced among entomologists , some yeirs ago , by the discovery of a small moth { Albulalis ); and the discoverer thereof was able to keep his secret to himself for a long time , during which he reaped no slight benefit , pecuniarily , by disposing of the insects to less fortunate collectors . This moth was first found in a small plantation on the estate of the Earl of

Darnley , where it is common enough during the month of July , although , in no other part of the British Isles , has it , so far as the discoverer is aware , been observed . A knowledge of the geographical distribution of plants is however , leading up to a more sound knowledge of the general distribution of the Lepidoptera , although it will appear , from the above , that no account , even then , can be made for insects that are only on the wing , for a

few weeks or days , and rarely leave the narrow world within which they willinglyi it would seem , imprison themselves . So much attention has of late been turned to Japan that it may not seem out of place to comment on the fact that no less than five per cent , of English Lepidoptera are taken in that country . For a knowledge of the butterflies and moths of Japan we are largely indebted to Mr . Jonas , whose splendid collection was placed at

the disposal of the British Museum . Turning over the leaves of the catalogue of this collection , the English collector will recognise many old friends ; and a reference to the flora of Japan will explain the reason of this . In Europe the year 1894 had been a bad one , the unsettled weather making collection difficult , and , moreover , damaging the slender wings of the m lture insect . Curious

enough it is , too , that Nature , so careful to preserve the species , and so careless of the life of the individual specimen , should endow a moth or butterfly with a life " that is frail in the extreme , if we except the hawk moths , which cling tenaciously to life , even when chloroform is administered . While the mature insect dies when pinched or struck down by the hand , the egg from which the moth or butterfly comes forth is able to endure extremes

ol heat and cold with perfect immunity from death . A temperature of 10 , Fahrenheit , has failed to freeze the young blood of the tiny life within the tiny shell , no larger than a pin's head ; a cluster of butterfly eggs upon a withered stalk of grass has defied the burning heat of the sun glaring down upon the sand of the Sahara . Entomologists visiting Greenland have found the same species of moths and butterflies existing there as at

Grindelwald and among the Swiss mountains generally . When Europe emerged from its glacial state , many scores of insects were forced slowly , but surely , to migrate up the mountains sides or to emigrate to frozen Arctic lands . Brazil is probably the best hunting-ground in the world so far as the aggregate number of species to be found is concerned ; out of a total of 10 , 000 species no fewer than 5000 are said to be found there . In Peru Mr . W . H .

Gates is reported to have taken 700 different species in a single year . Perhaps the great discoveries yet to be made will emanate from Borneo . Already collectors have touched its shores ; but within its confines there exist in all likelihood species absolutely unknown to the world , and thither entomologists , who now explore the Alps in search of fresh species , would do well to direct their steps . There is another more remarkable fact than that

of the localness of lepidoptera that is engaging the thought of many collectors—this is , the keen sense of taste or smell which butterflies and moths possess . The connection in the human being between taste and smell is so intimate , that it is a matter of difficulty to say where the one ends and the other begins . Certainly with regard to moths and butterflies , one is at a loss to say why certain smells and the evaporation of certain liquids

should attract them . The common notion that the quest of honey is the sole object for which a moth or butterfly exists has long been exploded , by the experience and experiments of even the tyro in entomology . Among moths the Nocturn ; c , and among butterflies the Vanessre , have long been lured to destruction by the simple device of treacling . This for the benefit ° > the uninitiated may be briefly explained as smearing the boles of trees

with a decoction of brown sugar , beer and , rum , The process here mentioned has resulted in the discovery of many species of Nocturn . u 'hat , otherwise , might never have been known to the entomologist . Granted that the mixture of beer and rum is intended to intoxicate tne insects , a result known from the effect of mixing drinks among mankind— -is it the the rumor the beerwhich attracts Lepidoptera ?

sugar , , , u may be all three ; certainly the smell of beer has some attraction in itself ° r moths , which has been tested by smearing trees with beer alone and "eglecting both the rum and sugar or the treacle . Sweetness , either in pneyed or other form , cannot be then the sole attraction for insects , urther , it has been shown that strength of smell rather than sweetness has > e greater effect . In the case of the Pumle Emoeror ( Abatttra iris ) , the

fe M ° ° ^ catcn ' fJ this prize , by means of a net attached to a pole 20 long , has Deen superseded by the discovery of the insect ' s taste for luy ' ne . word " game" is used of malice aforethought for the beautiinsect delights in the taste of a much decomposed cat , or the fragrant nn . i lt 1 S ab * distil from a hare ' s skin that has been kept in the sun

les /' operations . These juices , too , seem to intoxicate , though to a s degree , as do the sugar , rum , and beer . Apart from atmospheric conit l ! ° " i' wnicl 1 lar gely settle whether an insect shall remain at home or not , pery c " fou , l d lnat m some years " sugaring " does not pay . For some caro ^ M reason lne ' nsects refuse to accept the airy invitation to a drunken boxe ' at lh ? * ° ^ wn , cn they w '" transferred to the collector ' s pill that ' ° re ' axmg hox . Experience here , again , seems to point to the fact of P , f > ency , and not sweetness , attracts , tor amonir entomologists the use

moii , : > lated spirits instead of rum as a bait for the unwary butterfly and s 0 tne ' 5 "" g into rather common use , and by its means , or by means of So enrir | . 1 ' l , 1 ' > still more pungent , we may yet discover ne * species and cn our Knowled ge of the wonders which the world contains .

Painters And Other Artists In The Reign Of James I.

PAINTERS AND OTHER ARTISTS IN THE REIGN OF JAMES I .

( Continued ) . Among other pictures by Peter Oliver , after Vandyck , Sir Kenelmand Lady Digby set in the form of a book with covers of gold enamelled . The same Lady Digby , as she was found dead in her bed ; set in gold enamelled black , on which behind is a sphere ; it seems to mean that the world was in mourning for her . Sir Kenelm was passionately fond of this lady , who ,

Lord Clarendon says , was of extraordinary beauty , and as extraordinary fame . At Windsor is a whole length of her , by Vandyck , treading on serpents , to imply that the stories told of her were the produce of malice . At Goathurst , where they lived , are two busts of her in bronze ; on the pedestal of one are inscribed these tender words : " Uxorem ¦ vivam amare voluptas , defunctam religio . " A picture of Lady Lucy Percy , the

daughter and co-heiress of Thomas , Earl of Northumberland , who was beheaded , wife of Sir Edward Stanley , younger son of the Earl of Derby , the mother of Venetia , Lady Digby . She is still more beautiful than her daughter , though dressed very unbecomingly in a great black hat and a large ruff , only set off by a lilac ground . This is , perhaps , the finest and most perfect miniature in the world . Another

picture of Sir Kenelm Digby , his wife , and two sons , after Vandyck ; a large miniature in the highest preservation in an ebony case set with Wedgwood ' s cameos . On the inside of the doors two other ladies of the same set . It was bought by Miss Burdett Coutts for 250 guineas . It is extraordinary that more of the works of Peter Oliver are not known , as he commonly made duplicates of his

pictures , reserving one of each for himself . On this subject the painter Russell , related to , or connected with , the Olivers ' , tells a remarkable story . Tbe greater part of the collection of King Charles being dispersed in the troubles , among which were several of the Olivers ' , Charles II ., who remembered and was desirous ol recovering them , made many inquiries about them after the Restoration . At last he was told by one Rogersof

, Isleworth , that both the father and son were dead , but that the son's widow was living at Isleworth , and had many of their works . The king went very privately and unknown with Rogers to see them ; the widow showed several finished and unfinished , with many of which the king , being pleased , asked if she would sell them . She replied she had a mind the king should see

them first , and if he did not purchase them she should think of disposing of them . The king disclosed himself , on which she produced some more pictures which she seldom showed . The king desired her to set her price ; she said she did not care to make a price with his Majesty ; she would leave it to him , but promised to look over her husband ' s books , and let his Majesty know what prices his father , the late king , had paid .

[ To be continued . )

What Is A "Chestnut?"

WHAT IS A "CHESTNUT ? "

The origin has been variously explained , and many versions have been given . We think , however , that the following we have heard is as good as others , and has a certain amount of feasibility in it . The story is to this effect . A certain nouveau riche , who thought it the correct thing to

relate his travelled experience , had attendant upon him a poor gentleman , who , for a liberal consideration , used to keep him well up in the usages of polite society , to which the wealth y but ignorant man managed to obtain access . Fired with the idea of gaining notoriety , he was in the habit of inflicting upon his guests , who dined at his table for the good cheer he could offer them , " travellers' tales , " some of which were of so astounding and

improbable a nature as to be beyond all credence . Finding these were listened to with attention and respect , our plutocrat begun to draw the long bow to a greater extent than ever . His mentor , the poor friend , let his patron have his way , only occasionally giving him a quiet hint to temper his romancing . At last , on one occasion , the " umbra " felt it was his duty to speak plainly . The host had been relating to his table friends of his having

seen in one of the foreign countries a wonderful chestnut tree . He spoke of its being of such a colossal size , both as to height and girth , that even those who had before assented to his previous stories began to stagger in their faith . When the guests had retired , the host complained of the rude coldness of his friends that evening . The mentor then mentioned the

chestnut story , and gave that as the reason . Ignorant as he was , the patron had common sense , and accepting the remarks in good part , a mutual agreement was come to that when the host related an incident of travel beyond probability the " umbra" should quietly murmur in an undertone , " Chestnut . " This proved so effectual that in a short time , after a few reminders , the host was cured .

GENERAL NOTES . If " everything comes to the man who waits , " time is occasionall y against him . The head of the Agnew firm has not lived to see his celebrated picture of " The Duchess of Devonshire , " by Gainsborough , onco more restored to its frame ; but his sons and successors have the proud Drivilesre

? i , P . rovin K the truth of a very romantic story , and recovering their picture . Their courage and patience deserve a rich reward , which we hope they will reap , not only in the exhibition of the Duchess , but in its exalted value in other ways .

The Convent of the Assumption , at Passy , just outside Paris , which has just been sold for over a million francs , was at one time occupied by the famous actress , Madame Rachel , the discovery lately of whose forgotten love letters , by the nuns , in an old cupboard , sorely fluttered these immaculate religieuses by their amorous revelations .

„ . T"K NAT J ONAL GAi . LERY .-It is anticipated that the plansof Bro . Akers-D melas , 1 irst Commissioner of Works , for ensuring the safety of the National Gillery willentai an expenditure of , ( , 40 , 000 . J ™«» CIM » II THE SOCIETY OF ARTS .-His Majesty the King , who , as Prince of Wales , has been President of the Society of Arts since iSGj , has how graciously acceded to the request of the society , and has consented to become its Patron . His Mijesty has also permitted the society to continue the use of his profile on the medals of the society

THE GLASGOW EXHIIUTION .-A private view of this exhibition will bs held on die 34 th instant , for the benefit of the World ' s P ( e » . O , due occasion the A ' ent " Ueneral and Acting Executive Commissioner for Western Australia , Sir Edwird irt^i3,£M?as,aEswmassiitinrcceiving,he«*•»*«ot