( lix ) 



done with some, but it takes much longer to prepare the pins. 

 The specimens I am now mounting are much neater than 

 those I sent you. Please tell me if you think my present 

 method will do, and will not risk the loss of types in future ; 

 it has the great advantage of celerity ; I mounted over 150 

 before noon to-day. 



" I am afraid this letter will cause you some trouble ; but 

 I am very anxious to give you a good return for the expense 

 you are incurring, and my heart is quite set on giving you for 

 once something like a complete collection fi-om the tropics. 

 I have no rseource but to consult you on doubtful points in 

 my work, I expect to send on another lot of insects about 

 the end of the year ; also a fresh lot of plants. 



" Yours faithfully, 



" Herbert H. Smith." 



A discussion followed, in which Mr. M'Lachlan, Dr. Sharp, 

 Mr. Elwes, Lord Walsingham, and Mr. Distant took part. 



Mr. Elwes read a letter from Mr. Doherty, an American, 

 who had spent several years in remote parts of India, in 

 which the writer described his experiences in collecting in the 

 Naga Hills by means of light and sugar. Mr. Doherty 

 expressed an opinion that light, if used in very out-of-the-way 

 places, rather repelled than attracted insects ; in fact, that 

 they required to be accustomed to it, and that the same 

 remarks applied to "sugar." 



Colonel Swinhoe said that the attractive power of light 

 depended very much on its intensity, and on the height of 

 the light above the ground. By means of the electric light 

 in Bombay he had collected more than 300 specimens of 

 SphingidcB in one night. Mr. J. J. Walker, R.N., stated that 

 he had found the electric light very attractive to insects in 

 Panama. Mr. M'Lachlan, Dr. Sharp, Mr. Leech, Mr. Elwes, 

 Mr. A. J. Eose, the Rev. Canon Fowler, and others continued 

 the discussion. 



Papers read. 



Mr. Lionel de Nic6ville communicated a paper entitled 

 " Notes on a new genus of LycanidcB.'' 



