The U. S. Department of Agriculture bought itself a bargain last week. It acquired a collection of 1,000,000 butterflies and mothsvalued at $1 per specimen belonging to the late Dr. William Barnes of Decatur, Ill. for $50,000, or a nickel per insect. Usefulness of the collection, to be housed in the National Museum, Washington: with the new specimens on hand the Government can more readily identify insect pests.
Dr. Barnes started the work 50 years ago by chasing butterflies in the Rockies on his vacations. Soon his hobby became famed. Friends, collectors, strangers...
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