^0.3.] GEOTE ON MOTHS OF MAINE. 581' 



the spirit of cultivated observation that pervades his page and makes 

 it young and modern always. Perhai)s not so much modern, as alive 

 and quite well. Some of us are not so well, with th(; printer's ink hardly 

 dry. Professor Eiley finds some fault at ray quoting Dr. ITarris's orig- 

 inal "Eei)ort"; but for all these reasons it is a favorite " lleport" with 

 me, although I do not think the descriptions of N'octuidcc in it are accu- 

 rate enough, or full. As to this fact, the early descriptions are all scant, 

 while the known kinds are still few. 



The Eastern Entomologists are, I believe, all fond of Harris's mem- 

 ory, and he seems to have left behind him a good reputation. The Boston 

 Society published his Correspondence, and this is very readable. From 

 a scientific view the new names for Moths in it, all poorly founded, should' 

 have been omitted from the book. It was a mistake to publish tliem 

 without the specimens at hand and some one to tell the editor what they 

 now were to be called. The resurrected names, I fear, are ]iot only past 

 reviving, but past recognition. 



My old leather-backed '^Keport" is now the book I most often take 

 down, open, and read. I do not see what I could have done without it, 

 when I only had the more gorgeous Flint edition. My copy was once Dr. 

 Fitch's, and will be some one else's in turn. I hope my true kin, the 

 entomologists, will keep it going from one to another down the coming 

 years. It contains also the "Descriptive Catalogue'' from Sillimairs 

 Journal, Dr. Harris has written the date, 1S30, on its title page; an 

 "extra" title page, evidently. It is an "Author's copy," bearing above, 

 also in Dr. Harris's handwriting, "Asa Fitch, from tbe author." One of 

 those "extras" which the Kev. Mr. Hulst appears to think does not con- 

 stitute publication, as against the "number" of an amateur antedated. 

 It is paged by itself, but on the reverse of the title, on tlie second i)age. 

 Dr. Fitch (I think) has written: "p. 282, in Silliman's Journal, vol. 3G." 



As illustrating the uncertainty which one often feels, whether the 

 position given to an aberrant form is the true one, I may cite a written 

 remark, in my copy, to the description of Fsychomorpha epimcnis; on 

 page 39- Dr. Fitch has written in ink over Dr. Harris's own words in 

 lead pencil: "A 'Noi^Xim, genus Brejihosf (Harris's correction)." But 

 we know that this is, in effect, no correction, and that the insect was 

 properly named at first. Some time I may give more notes on tins copy 

 of Dr. Harris's "Eeport," &c. It is no wonder I am fond of the book. 

 It is nicer than many of tbe later "Eeports," which I occasionally re- 

 ceive, on its subject; although our information on " Noxious insects" is, 

 to-day, so much fuller, more practical, and thus more valuable. 



All si)ecimens of Moths from the Eastern States bring uj) thoughts 

 of Dr. Harris and, indeed, the gre«t thinkers of the region whence they 

 come. Undoubtedly the face of the (country, its fauna, llora^ and cli- 

 mate, infiuence ils i)roductions, its learned men among other. So there 

 is nothing inconsequent in my digression, which I leave to consi<!er 

 the s]>eciniens i)efore me, and which have been chietly sent by mv friend, 

 Mr. liOland Thaxter, making part of his collections. 



