The Butterfly Collection A Poem for Every British Butterfly

About this book

Butterflies flutter up from these colourful pages – beautiful, ephemeral, transient, delicate, almost mythical creatures. But they are a tough lot. Some species endure weather conditions that would easily see us off; some are territorial and defend their plots with extreme vigour; some might be considered oversexed; some have amazing powers of navigation; and some have bizarre associations with ants. This is the first book to celebrate each of the 58 British butterfly species in verse. The poems mix fact and fun and will be enjoyed by those already passionate about butterflies whilst enthusing others to become so. Brief introductions to the poems explain aspects of the butterflies’ lives necessary to appreciate the poems fully. Many are dedicated to people who have inspired the author in his entomological career. All are wrapped in colour images from life, producing a splendid and enchanting book to be treasured.

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Biography

Richard Harrington is a professional entomologist. Until recently he headed the world-famous Rothamsted Insect Survey in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, contributing to an ongoing national and international effort to assess the demography of moths and aphids to inform about their conservation or control. He has been a very keen butterfly enthusiast since he was 8, now ‘collecting’ them as a hobby using a camera only. He hopes that others will appreciate his fascination with these delightful insects and, like him, will become concerned with their future. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a member of Butterfly Conservation and a volunteer with the National Trust.