SALT LAKE CITY -- A local doctor's collection of roughly 16,000 butterflies has been donated to a museum at the University of Utah.
The family of Dr. James Pearce donated the collection Saturday to the Natural History Museum of Utah after his recent death.
KSL reports Pearce gathered butterflies for 50 years on his travels in Utah and around the world.
Museum spokeswoman Christie Bills says the collection will provide insight into Utah's butterfly population and how it has changed in recent decades.
Pearce was meticulous with his hobby, writing down the date and area where each butterfly was found.
His widow, Virginia Pearce, says he loved nature and began collecting butterflies as a boy.
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