rn 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 



Vol. XXL] MAY, 1888. [No. 300. 



PROPOSED NEW ENTO.M'-i.OGICAL SOCIETY. 



It will be remembered that Mr. Goryndon Matthews (Entom. 

 10) propounded a scheme for a new Entomological Society. 

 That article was inserted without any editorial remarks, in the 

 hope that independent opinions might be received upon the 

 subject, and with the fear that such criticism might prejudice 

 free discussion. Having now wail a a considerable time without 

 receiving any lengthened communication — although a large 

 number of private letters have Doen sent to me, as Editor, 

 advocating various modifications if Mr. Matthews's proposal — 

 it seems desirable that we shouk. w^turn to the subject in these 

 pages. It is clear from these 1 ^ters that there is a general 

 desire on the part of country entomologists, and I may say 

 students of every branch of Biology, to associate themselves 

 under some such organisation for mutual assistance. 



Mr. Matthews's suggestions are, as a whole, admirable, and 

 were there a larger number actively engaged in the study of 

 Entomology the s'-heme as suggested by him would doubtless 

 work well. If we take, say the list of subscribers and con- 

 tributors to this Magazine, who really represent much the 

 larger portion of those actively at work on Entomology, we find 

 that by far the greater number are those who live in the larger 

 towns; many of such towns having their local societies. The 

 country entomologists appear to be in little batches of twos, 

 threes, or fours, working together from the smaller towns. Of 

 course there are many isolated students, for whom Mr. Matthews 



ENTOM.— MAY, iHHH. M 



