40 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb., 'O2 



food, & our dangers from Indian hostility were far less than 

 those of our former expedition. We passed over that immense 

 country in six months so that you will be well aware that we 

 had not much leisure to make very abundant collections ; never- 

 theless I obtained some insects that are of some interest. 



You will observe by the number of the Journal that I now 

 send, my commencement to describe our Coleopterous insects. 

 This paper is to include such as were obtained during our ex- 

 pedition to the Rocky mountains. It will be succeeded by a 

 description of the insects of this country generally. You will 

 observe that I have carefully quoted your " Catalogue" for all 

 such species as I have been favoured with from you & from 

 your father. I hope to send you soon an extensive paper on 

 the families of Carabus, Dytiscus & Gyrinus ; it is already 

 printed off. Also a paper on the Hymenoptera, & another on 

 the Neuroptera which I have had published and of which I 

 expect soon to have some extra copies. Whatever I publish 

 shall be submitted to your inspection & I beg in return your 

 candid opinion and usual critical observations upon them. I 

 have the ambition to do as much as possible & to perform my 

 work as well as I can, I must therefore task the acumen of my 

 friend to correct my errors when he perceives them, & to teach 

 me to do better when he perceives the way open to amendment. 



I remain truly & cordially 



ytmr friend & Obd' Serv 1 . 

 Thomas Say 



[NoTE. In a footnote appended to the first of these letters, 

 F. E. Melsheimer is said to have probably represented the third 

 generation of the family in America. I now learn that he was 

 the brother of J. F. Melsheimer. 



This last letter brings this series to a close, as the following 

 two or three letters, dated 1824-25, are not thought of sufficient 

 general interest to justify their publication here. W. J. F.] 



MR. S. H. HAMILTON of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadel- 

 phia, is about to visit Cuba on a collecting trip. He will be pleased to 

 hear from any one wishing Cuban insects. His address will be Santiago, 

 care of " General Delivery," 



