47 



" The collection is every day increasing in value, from the number 

 of oi'iginal types which are being collected together by that institu- 

 tion ; this number being also daily increased by the publication of 

 the catalogues, which renders all the specimens now existing in the 

 collection, as the catalogues appear, to be tj^pe specimens of the 

 species indicated or described in these catalogues. I consider them, 

 and this is the light in which they are regarded by many zoologists 

 both here and abroad, as one of the most important contributions to 

 zoological science, and as being the nearest approach to a ' Systema 

 Naturae' that can at the present time be undertaken. The best men 

 that can be procured, each working on the subject which he best 

 knows, having at his command the largest and best arranged collec- 

 tion of all classes in Europe, and access to almost every work that 

 has been published on the Science. They are not only labours of 

 love, but works for which each author gets all the credit of his exer- 

 tions, as the name of the author is always given, and he is encouraged 

 to do his best and not hurry the work, by being paid a fair remu- 

 neration for his labour." 



The Society having resolved, at the last anniversary, to give up 

 their collection of foreign insects, as before alluded to, the National 

 Collection is now the chief and only really available one which ento- 

 mologists have to refer to, and, looking upon it in this light, as well 

 as that of its permanent character, while private collections may be 

 said to be evanescent, I think it desirable that all lovers of our 

 Science should do all in their power to make the National Collection 

 as complete as possible, and there especially to deposit typical speci- 

 mens, for the benefit of students in Entomology. I feel deeply the 

 necessity of private collections to the working entomologist, and my 

 observations must not be thought in any way to be directed against 

 them : my only wish has been to call your attention to the claims the 

 National Collection has upon us for our aid and assistance, as far as 

 practicable. It would be a great boon to the entomologist if the col- 

 lection now under consideration could be opened once a week, or once 

 even every fortnight, during the evening, for a great many entomolo- 

 gists are occupied during the day in business, and are almost pre- 

 cluded from making any use of its treasures : what difficulties may 

 be in the way of obtaining this result I do not know, but I feel sure 

 those who have charge of the collection have every desire to render 

 it as useful as possible to Science. 



