PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 299 



972. On the 25th of March, 1748, the great fire 

 which happened in Cornhill burnt down the 

 Swan Tavern, together with the society's valuable 

 collection of insects, books, &c., and all their 

 regalia. 



973. The society was sitting at the time ; yet so 

 sudden and rapid was the impetuous course of 

 the fire, that the flames beat against the windows 

 before they could well get out of the room, many 

 of them leaving their hats and canes. 



974. Their loss so much disheartened the mem- 

 bers, that although they several times met for 

 that purpose, they never could collect a sufficient 

 number to form a society, so that for fourteen 

 years there was no meeting of that sort. 



975. Second. The Aurelian Society was esta- 

 blished in the year 1762 ; it arose, phoenix-like, 

 out of the ashes of the old ; four years afterwards 

 this society was in existence, as appears from the 

 fact, that in 1766, Moses Harris dedicated to it his 

 work entitled the " Aurelian." We have no farther 

 account of it. 



976. Third. The Society of Entomologists of 

 London was established in the year 1780; its 

 minute book is carried down to the first week in 

 August, 1782, at which time it appears to have 

 discontinued its sittings. We hear from Mr. 

 Haworth, that the cabinet of two of its members, 

 Mr. Tinley and Mr. Bentley, were rich in Lepi- 

 doptera and Coleoptera. 



