Miscellanies. 169 



the eastern continent, particularly from Europe and India 5 or, if 

 more agreeable, he will send plants and shells.* 



The following letter from M. Laporte to Dr. Porter, expresses his 

 views more -fully. 



" I am very much gratified to learn that the little collection of in- 

 sects which I sent you gave you pleasure ; and I repeat my offers, 

 to send you, not only a large proportion of all the species of Europe, 

 but hkewise those of India and other countries. I will alsof send 

 you, if you desire it, plants, both in the phanerogamous or cryptoga- 

 mous department, as I possess many duphcates duly prepared. 



" I can also send specimens in conchology, either sea, land, river 

 or fossil shells, f 



" My brother, being particularly engaged in ornithology, would be 

 alike desirous of entering into correspondence with any naturalists, 

 who collect birds : he would be able to furnish many specimens. 



" I desire, above all things, to receive insects, of whatever order 

 they may be ; and, as I am engaged upon a work concerning those 

 of the two Americas, it is indispensable that I should receive not only 

 a large number, but from different localities. For this I shall be dis^ 

 posed to make numerous sacrifices,, in order to indemnify my corres- 

 pondents for the pains they may take to assist me in my researches : 

 I shall therefore feel very grateful to you, if you will have the good- 

 ness to attend to my request ; and I desire you more especially tq 

 put up the lepidopterous insects in paper triangles, that they may 

 arrive in the best state. 



" I do not consider it indispensable to have the insects, that may 

 be sent me, classed, but only every variety, as far as possible, of the 

 different species, by having several specimens of the same put up. 

 This would be of great advantage to me. 



" If, among the number of species that I have sent, or may here- 

 after send you, some of the same should be found also with you, I 

 request that you would not, on that account, neglect sending them 

 to me. 



* M. Laporte requests that whatever is intended for him may be forwarded di- 

 rect to Bordeaux, and not by the way of Havre. His address is, M. J. L. Laporte, 

 Tresorier de la Societc Linneenne de Bordeaux, Rue du Parlement, jYo. 13, a 

 Bordeaux. 



1 With respect to minerals^ I have but few duplicates. 



Vol. XX.— No. 1. 22 



