VARIETIES. 521 



63. Inquiry resjJecting Ants. — Sir, I shall feel obliged by 

 your asking, as an anonymous query in your valuable maga- 

 zine, whether any mode of destroying ants in gardens is 

 known. G. T. 



Bristol. 



64. Genus Altica. — Sir, Allow me to comment on the mode 

 of spelling Haltica, adopted by yourself at p. 364. It cer- 

 tainly should be Haltica, if it means "given to jumping," — 

 aXriKa, the original word, having the aspirate corresponding 

 to our h. C. S. Bird. 



Burghfield, 2d Jtilij, 1833. 



[We feel obliged to the Rev. Mr. Bird for this criticism, 

 which is classically a correct, scientifically and technically an 

 erroneous one : there are many generic names to which we 

 should be glad to apply the laws of elegance, euphony, &c. — 

 but we must bow to custom. Mr. Bird, perhaps, may not be 

 aware, that Altica, not Haltica, is the original name; — it 

 strikes us, at this moment, that he may have supposed us 

 guilty of an innovation of which we had no idea. — Ed.] 



Q5. Entomological Society. — Sir, In the account that you 

 gave us at p. 390 of the formation of the Entomological 

 Society of London, you state that all the entomologists whose 

 addresses could be obtained received notices that such was to 

 take place : — now, Sir, I must beg you will contradict that 

 statement; for there are four practical entomologists with 

 whom I am acquainted, as well as myself, that received no 

 such notice, whose addresses were well known. You will 

 oblige many of your entomological readers by giving publicity 

 to this ; for, to them, it does appear there has been great neg- 

 lect, or party feeling has actuated some of the officers. 



J. Chant. 



3, Critchell Place, New North Road, 

 August, 1833. 



[We have received many other letters on this subject, some 

 abusive ones, and all but Mr. Chant's nameless. Mr. Chant 

 is quite right and justified in taking up the matter in the open, 

 manly, and spirited manner which he has done ; and we wil- 

 lingly retract our assertion, that invitations were sent " to all 



NO. V. VOL. I. 3 X 



