THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 277 



p. 89 of Mr. Greene's invaluable ' Insect-Hunter's Compa- 

 nion,' you will find receipts for all the mixtures that have 

 been found successful. — E. Newman.'] 



Exchcwging. — Mr. Newman's note, appended to Mr. 

 Merlin's communication, on this subject, in the March 

 number of the * Entomologist,' appears to me to be somewhat 

 wide of the mark. That foolish people make such offers as 

 Rapae for Daplidice, &c., does not prove or falsify the benefits 

 an exchange club would confer on the more straightforward 

 class of collectors, especially if established on a somewhat 

 broader basis than hitherto. Indeed, I would ask why a 

 Botanical exchange club can be satisfactorily continued, and 

 not a Lepidopterists' ? I would like to lay the following 

 points before the readers of the ' Entomologist,' and urge 

 some of their London brethren to take the matter seriously in 

 hand. First. The old club succeeded ; and it was only in 

 compliance with urgent medical directions that I discontinued 

 my connection with it, when, of course, the labour became too 

 heavy for Mr. Merrin to carry on alone. Secondly. The 

 greater part (in fact, nearly all) of the members were perfectly 

 satisfied with the exchanges made. Thirdly^ Although no 

 rare species were sent to us, very many good local ones were 

 (such as Ichneumoniformis, Elymi, Blomeri, Rubricata, 

 Lapidata, &c.) ; and a great improvement was made in the 

 condition of the insects sent from year to year. Had the 

 club been continued, all bad or indifferent specimens would 

 have been rigidly returned to the senders or destroyed; but, 

 on first starting, this was held to be too discouraging to 

 young entomologists. Fourthly. Since the discontinuance of 

 the club I have had numerous letters from members expres- 

 sive of regret at its discontinuance, and of hopes for its 

 re-establishment; and, of the forty-two members of 1870, I 

 feel assured thirty (at least) would join a new club ; and were 

 this established, under the auspices of a few better-known 

 entomologists, this number would be greatly augmented from 

 the provinces, and many London collectors would also join. 

 Thus a club could be started on a solid foundation ; and, to 

 such a one, the better class of entomologists would gladly 

 send their duplicates (after supplying their immediate friends), 

 in preference to answering advertisements from unknown 

 collectors, and amongst which we see such absurd offers as 



