24 DE. BRACKENEIDGE CLEMENS' LETTERS. 



T have been entirely unsuccessful in carrying them through 

 their transformations. One species, which 1 found tins 

 season, for the first time, in abundance, all I believe died in 

 the larva state, notwithstanding the assiduous attention I 

 gave it and all my devices contrived for its benefit. I will 

 not trouble you to read the particulars of its history,— unfor- 

 tunate history I shoidd say,— at the present time. 



It is with feelings of some trepidation that I send by the 

 present post my first paper on Entomology. Need I say 

 ] shall be pleased to have your opinion of it ? Do not hesi- 

 tate to indicate that which you conceive to be objectionable 

 or erroneous. I have honestly expressed the results of my 

 own labours, regardless of the praise or disapprobation they 

 may meet with, and confident that if my conceptions are 

 truthful and accurate they will stand the tests of examination 

 and discussion. 



My first paper on the Tineina will appear some time 

 during this mouth in the Proceedings of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences. In it I describe four genera, and give 

 figures of the heads, wings, &c, like those in your " Insecta 

 Britannica." I know nothing of the primary si ates of two of 

 these genera, and as the perfect insects are quite distinct in 

 their characters from any genus described in your work 

 I have pronounced them to be new. 



The plan on which the publication of the Proceedings is 

 conducted does not include illustration, except at the expense 

 of the author: therefore I will not continue these papers with 

 plates beyond another number or two in the Proceedings, 

 and if I cannot induce Prof. Henry of the Smithsonian to 

 continue them, as 1 work up the material in my collection, 

 I will cease to publish them. 



The article to which I referred in my last as being ready 

 for distribution by the Smithsonian Institution has been 

 printed in the Annual Report, but has not been distributed, 

 owine to the want of franks. When I receive copies of it 

 1 will send yon one.* 



* See<m*«,p. 1^- H. T. S. 



