300 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



977. Fourth. The Aurelian Society was established 

 in the year 1801 ; it was proposed and managed by 

 the late Mr. Ha worth, the author of " Lepidoptera 

 Britannica." The collection was Mr. Haworth's 

 own property, and was to be given up to the 

 society as soon as it should consist of twenty 

 members, which number it never reached. 



978. The objects of this society were to form a 

 complete and standard cabinet of the entomo- 

 logical productions of Great Britain ; to ascertain 

 their names, uses, and distinctions ; the places and 

 times of their appearance, food, economy, and pe- 

 culiarities ; and to point out to the public the 

 readiest and most desirable methods of destroying 

 such as possess properties which are inimical to 

 the welfare of mankind. 



979. Any person desirous of becoming a member 

 of this society, was to be approved by every 

 member of the society at the time being ; was to 

 give up one specimen of every species in his own 

 collection, which the cabinet of the society did not 

 possess; the elected member was to receive in 

 return duplicate specimens from the society's col- 

 lection, or money if he preferred it. 



980. By these means (say the rules), the Aurelian 

 cabinet must ultimately arrive at the standard of 

 perfection ; and the separate collection of every 

 member of the society will gradually increase both 

 in number and value. But, alas, the society, nor 

 the collection, ever attained perfection ; the society 



