( io ) 



principle of priority as advocated by the leading Naturalists of the day: but I dare say when 

 my Catalogue appears there will be plenty of hooks to catch critical bites, and thence errors 

 detected, spite of all one's care. I merely call attention to the fact as regards Hcemylis, not 

 with any carping view, but simply as showing the difficulty of avoiding error." 



The second edition of Mr. Stephens' Systematic Catalogue, alluded to in the foregoing 

 letters as having been in hand for many years, never saw the light ; but the Lepidopterous 

 portion of it was subsequently published as the Catalogue of British Lepidoptera in the Collec- 

 tion of the British Museum. 



Of this the first portion (the Macro- Lepidoptera) appeared towards the close of 1850, and 

 the Tortricidce early in 1852. The Manuscript of the Crambidce was in the hands of the 

 Printer before Mr. Stephens' last illness, and will shortly be published; thus making the 

 Catalogue of British Lepidoptera complete (with the exception only of the Tineidce and 

 Pterophoridce). 



The last letter I received from Mr. Stephens bears date December 31st, 1851. 



" Thank you kindly for your Entomologist's Companion just come to hand. I have no 

 doubt but that I shall find it as useful as acceptable, and shall frequently in consequence make 

 it my companion. You are doubtless aware that ' my' first part of the Micro-Leps is 

 in progress ; in fact, with the exception of a few generic names, and the settlement of the 

 species of three genera, ready for ' press,' where the first portion will be sent probably this 

 evening. I have to thank you for the loan of Dups' Supp., and shall want to consult some of 

 the volumes of the Isis, if unable to obtain them in time at the B. M. Each time that I have 

 inquired for them, they have been in the ' Reading Room.' 



" I have undertaken a very long job; but I hope to set 'heart and soul' upon it. I shall 

 commence with the new year in right-down earnest, i.e. to catalogue the entire B. M. Collection 

 of ' Moths,' and describe the N. S. 1 commence with the Bombyces, to form Part I., which 

 I hope to finish before many months, so as to have collecting time spared to me." 



On the 2nd of December, 1852, Mr. Stephens complained of a sensation of chilliness, 

 which was speedily developed into an attack of pleurisy, which carried him off on the 21st of 

 that month, 



Mr. Stephens married, in 1822, Sarah, the daughter of Captain Roberts, who survives her 

 husband. Several children were the issue of this marriage; but all died young. 



H. T. S. 



