On Collections and Museums. 139 



Here Dr. Horsfield enters into particulars regarding the genera 

 and species. 



" But besides these it is in the branch of Entomology that I would at 

 present strongly solicit contributions to the Company's Museum. I am 

 more anxious on this head, as I have succeeded in bringing an ex- 

 tensive collection of Insects from Java in excellent condition, and with 

 the exception of these, and the collection of Colonel Sykes, we^ have 

 absolutely nothing from Bengal or from India generally." 



On this subject Dr. Horsfield delicately alludes to the probability 

 of gentlemen connected with missions still holding collections of Insects 

 unappropriated, under the supposition, perhaps, that such objects would 

 be less appreciated than the large animals ; on the contrary, Dr. 

 Horsfield states that contributions to this department of the Museum 

 would be as likely as any other means to promote the interests of 

 science, and to secure the approval of those who are interested in the 

 collection at the India House. 



With regard to Insects. The public collections which remain, I 

 believe, unappropriated, are those made by Dr. Wallich, Mr. Griffith, 

 and myself, when employed on the Assam deputation, and Dr. Hel- 

 fer's collection. That which was made by the Assam deputation is 

 still, I believe, at the Botanic Garden, and like Dr. Helfer's collection 

 has not yet been transferred to the Government. With regard to the 

 former, perhaps the Society has no authority to interfere ; but as the 

 Society has been authorized to take, one series of Dr. Helfer's col- 

 lection for its own Museum, and to select another for that of 

 the India House, it might be necessary to address Dr. Helfer on the 

 subject, particularly as his collection of birds for the Honorable Court 

 has been packed up for some time in the Museum, and are only detain- 

 ed till the insects which have not yet been submitted to the Society 

 should accompany them. 



The large collections of birds and insects made by Captain Pemberton 

 during his mission to Boutan, and the officers who accompanied him on 

 that occasion, have been long almost unobserved in the Museum, owing 

 to the late repairs of the house. The greater part of the birds com- 

 posing that collection were previously in our possession, but such as 

 were new to it were transferred to our cabinets, and the rest enclosed 

 in cases for transmission to the India House. The insects of the same 

 collection which are numerous, and no doubt rich in undescribed forms, 

 are also in course of being dispatched with the birds ; a series having 

 been reserved for our own collection. The pains taken during Captain 

 Pemberton 's Journey, to mark the localities in which the different 

 objects were collected, cannot be too highly applauded, especially as 

 this very important circumstance has been hitherto altogether neglect- 

 ed on such occasions. 



Mr. Lyell in a letter addressed to Mr. M'Clelland, dated 7th Sep- 

 tember 1839, states, that he is very anxious for accurate information res- 



