24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



common to see a notice from some prominent collector, offering 

 certain species to be given away to those who would send box and 

 return postage. How rare is such a display of generosity now-a- 

 days ! Is it that, twenty or thirty years since, there were so few 

 entomologists that a collector found it difficult to discover " the " 

 man who wanted a particular species ; or is it that we are 

 becoming more selfish ? Whichever may be the true solution of 

 this question, I do not think certain persons, who have almost 

 complete series of what macros are obtainable, would be injuring 

 their cabinets or themselves if they encouraged beginners or 

 outsiders by distributing a few of their superfluous specimens 

 without expecting a return of any kind. This is surely the best 

 way of promoting our favourite pastime. — (Rev.) Gilbert H. 

 Raynor; Shenfield, Brentwood, October 22, 1884. 



DoNAciA sPARGANii,^/ir. — While sweeping at Esher, on August 

 5th last, I netted a splendid coleopteron of the genus Donacia, 

 and being doubtful as to which species to class it with, I kept it 

 by me until Nov. 20th, when I exhibited several Donacice, in- 

 cluding this one, at the South London Entomological Society's 

 Pocket-box Exhibition. Several coleopterists were present, but 

 as no one seemed to recognise the beetle in question I referred it 

 to your correspondent, the Rev. W. W. Fowler, who kindly 

 replied : — *' The Donacia is D. sparganii, a good species ; it is a 

 pity you did not get more, as Donacia is usually a gregarious 

 genus." Respecting the gregarious habit of this genus, it may be 

 well to note that I have found this to be generally the case, 

 although I captured but one specimen on the above date, but this 

 is attributable to the fact that I had to suspend operations at 

 noon, and consequently lost the latter portion of the day, which 

 I consider the best time for collecting these beetles.— G. A. 

 Lewcock; 40, Oxford Road, Islington, W., December 15, 1884. 



Correction. — Pyrameis huntera not in Essex. — I have 

 pleasure in correcting a statement made by me (Entom. xvii. 41), 

 through the medium of your Journal, that I had captured a 

 specimen of P. huntera a few years ago ; it turns out to be, as 

 you surmised in your note, the variety of V. cardui figured in 

 Newman. — F. H. Barclay; Leyton, Essex. 



