Jan., '92] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. II 



come to hand. The 6V.* N? of the second volume is com- 

 pleted and shall be sent. 



I remain as usual most respectfully 

 your friend & obedient Servent 

 Thomas Say 



A Note on the Insect Collection of Thomas Say. 



In 1834, Thomas Say left his collection of insects to the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia by verbal be- 

 quest. Subsequently, it was sent to Dr. Thaddeus William 

 Harris, of Cambridge, Mass., presumably that it might re- 

 ceive the necessary care that only an experienced entomologist 

 can give. This was prior to 1837.* Under date of July 16, 

 1838, in a letter to Dr. S. G. Morton, of the Academy, Dr. 

 Harris says : "I have been obliged to bake a considerable part 

 of the insects lately belonging to Mr, Say hvice, and some of 

 them three times, in order to destroy the vermin with which 

 they are infested." 



In March, 1842, the Say and other collections were returned 

 to the Academy ' ' in such a state of ruin and dilapidation as 

 to be almost useless."! 



Whether the collection was infested when first received by 

 the Academy, or became so while in its possession prior to its 

 transmission to Harris, or while under the care of this gentle- 

 man, it is now impossible to state. The collection remained 

 in Mr, Harris's possession for at least five years, 1836, or 1837 

 to 1842, and in 1838, he stated that "a considerable part of 

 the insects " were infested, necessitating baking. 



The above facts are presented to refute the oft-repeated 

 charge that Say's collection was allowed to go to ruin at the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and, in justice 

 to Dr. Harris, it is probable that the collection was partially 

 infested when sent to him. The responsibility for the loss of 



* " Mr, Say's collection was catalogued by Dr, Harris in the same man' 

 ner. Most of this sort of work was apparently done in 1837," — Entomo- 

 logical Correspondence of Thaddeus William Harris, M.D., Edited by 

 Samuel H. Scudder. 



t A Notice of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- 

 phia, by W. S. W. Ruschenberger. 1852, 



