108 HINTS TO INSECT COLLECTORS. 



the animal kingdom so suitable for engaging the attention of these two 

 classes of students. 



There is comparatively little good to be derived from reading books on 

 the subject, unless specimens or accurate figures are at hand. In every 

 case it is best to form a collection of British Insects, so as to obtain a 

 comprehensive view of the subject, and then devote a season or more to 

 the study of each order in succession, or at once to devote the whole 

 attention to one order. A little experience will soon point out the pro- 

 priety of such a course of action. Butterflies, Moths, and Beetles, have 

 the greatest number of votaries. 



The student should endeavour to obtain practical instruction in collecting, 

 setting, and arranging specimens, from some experienced person in his 

 neighbourhood, or else he must seek information in books. 



There are now several booksellers in London, who advertise a reduction 

 of two-pence on every shilling, for cash, on the published price of every 

 new book, and their practice is now followed by several booksellers in 

 many of the large towns in the country. It is well to attend sales of 

 books, to obtain priced lists, and to frequent second-hand bookshops, for 

 if books are perfect, a little soiling is of no consequence to the earnest 

 student, to whom every penny saved is a penny gained for some other 

 useful purpose. "^ "'' '* 



"Ingpen's Instructions on collecting Insects," 3s. 6d., is the best work 

 on the subject. "Newman's Familiar Introduction to Entomology," 12s., 

 is very comprehensive, but it is now behind the age. "Duncan's Intro- 

 duction to Entomology," "Naturalists' Library," 4s. 6d., is less comprehensive 

 but yet worthy of attention. "Westwood's Entomologists' Text Book," 

 7s. Gd., is an excellent work. In all matters relating to the habits, instincts, 

 etc., the "Introduction to Entomology," by Kirby and Spence, stands 

 unrivalled; the later editions in two volumes 30s., are restricted to the 

 above subjects, but if the older and more comprehensive editions in four 

 volumes can be purchased at the same price, so much the better. In the 

 "Library of Entertaining Knowledge," the volumes on "Insect-Miscellanies" 

 — "Architecture and Transformations," at 3s. 6d. each, as well as the 

 re- issue of two of these volumes in "Knight's Shilling Series," are very 

 instructive. A cheap comprehensive Introduction is much to be desired, 

 but for want of such, the student must be content with "Ingpen's Instruc- 

 tions," and "Westwood's Text Book." 



There is no complete work on British Insects; the nearest approximations 

 thereto are the large, expensive, and incomplete publications of Stephens 

 — "Illustrations of British Entomology," 12 vols., <£8 8s., (Bohn;) and 

 Curtis' "British Entomology," 16 vols., ,£21. There is a Synopsis of the 

 Genera of British Insects, appended to Westwood's valuable "Classification 



