NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 



127 



certainly one well-known and amiable enthusiast who yearly- 

 throws open his duplicate boxes to all beginners who may be in 

 want of specimens. — W. Warren ; Merton Cottage, Cambridge, 

 January 1, 1885. 



Exchanging. — I perceive that Mr. Coverdale admits, in the 

 February number (Entom. xviii. 48), the suggestion thrown out 

 by the Eev. Mr. Raynor in the January number (Entom. xviii. 23), 

 that entomologists are to-day more selfish than of yore. I do not 

 think this is so at all ; but the times have changed. Thirty years 

 ago there was only one entomologist where there are now thirty, 

 who collect, and an invitation which then attracted twenty or 

 thirty would now bring 300 applicants ! Mr. Raynor makes it a 

 virtue to have an appreciation of the value of time. Let him 

 calculate how long it would take to receive, re-pack, address and 

 despatch 300 boxes, accompanied iH'obably by notes apologising 

 for sending two insects when twenty-four were asked for, or for 

 having to return an empty box. It would be a great undertaking, 

 and moreover a most ungrateful one. I remember that some six 

 years ago a case of the kind occurred. The late Mr. E. Birchall 

 advertised 500 Zygcena pilosellce {minos) in this manner. He 

 received 200 applications ; distributed his 500 insects among 

 170 in twos and threes ; returned some empty ; and, in conse- 

 quence, a number of insulting letters and reproaches instead of 

 thanks. — Stephen Pegler ; Retford, February 23, 1885. 



A Reference Collection. — I cannot but think that giving 

 away specimens on a large scale is injurious both to the giver 

 and to the recipient. It seems to me like giving a penny to the 

 habitual beggar, an apparent kindness which really only induces 

 sloth and not activity. It is not as if beginners had nothing to 

 give in exchange ; anyone, beginner or not, may with a little hard 

 work find many local and rare species in his district, however 

 poor it may be ; and even if he is unable to supply his 

 correspondent with any species he really wants, I think it is 

 better to take what he has than to take nothing in return ; 

 for this, at any rate, stimulates him to further activity, with the 

 hope of further exchanges. The only instance in which I would 

 encourage free gifts is in the case of obscure and critical insects, 

 and in such cases I have no doubt a correctly-named specimen is 

 of the greatest value to a beginner, as it gives him help which he 

 could not otherwise obtain. Are entomologists any the less 



