123 



DOUBLEDAY TO HARRIS. 



Epping, June 4, 1839. 



A few days since I found at a bookseller's, eiglity-four draw- 

 ings by Abbot, containing one hvindred and fifty figures of 

 Georgian Coleoptera, and about three hundred and fifty of 

 Lepidoptera. They are bound in a small folio volume, and did 

 not belong to Swainson. As many of the tilings figured are 

 new to me, I thought they might not be known to you either, 

 and so gave seven guineas for them, and brought them away, 

 determining to send them as a trifling present to you in my 

 next parcel. I hope they may contain something new to you.-' 



I have also some few moths and one Hipparchia sent by 

 Abbot many years ago to England, and expect soon to get some 

 more, as the late Mr. Milne's collection will soon be for sale, 

 and he purchased many things of Abbot. 



I have nearly finished the species of Bombyces I have to 

 describe. One thing troubles me. I am obliged to make many 

 new genera. Of these I fear you will have some species, and 

 thus I shall still be intruding on your territories. I have been 

 thinking of sending to you all ~my Noctuce that you do not pos- 

 sess, or have not seen, and all the remarks I can find to make 

 upon them. In fact, I have nearly resolved thereon. I had 

 rather your papers were as complete as possible, and it would 

 be far more advantageous to science that you should do them. 

 You, too, can go on better, from greater knowledge of larviB, etc. 



Now as to the Bombyces. You will remember a small one 

 like a Cossus (104). This is not a Cossus ; in Cossus the an- 

 tennae are thick, and simply pectinate ; in this they are bipecti- 

 nate. This must form a new genus. A single joint in 

 Cossus would be thus, <J — a broad lamella ; in this it is 

 thus, <r 



Then comes my 60 and 56 and 57. These are evidently 



1 [The volume is now in the Society's possession.] 



