would prove popular among the teachers, I am sure, and I know of no field so 

 rich for nature study in the schools as that of insect breeding and the working out 

 of life histories. I do not know whether this field can be adequately covered by 

 your correspondence course or whether the field might not warrant a few weeks 

 of more concentrated work right on the ground with the teachers in a special class. 

 Such a course might be given either under the auspices of the Agassiz Association 

 or perhaps the university might consider fostering it. In either case you would 

 have to look to the fees for remuneration for your work. However, these details 

 would adjust themselves, the main point being the question whether you could 

 handle the field in your general correspondence course or whether you might 

 rot find it profitable to form a class for a few weeks of more concentrated work 

 among the teachers. I do not know whether you would find it profitable to leave 

 your work at Truckee for such an undertaking or not. The correspondence course 

 could be handled from any point. It occurs to me that winter collecting in and 

 about Los Angeles might prove profitable for your work. Whatever you may 

 undertake, I shall be glad to help all I can." 



WANTS OF A GREAT MUSEUM. 



Henry Skinner, M. D., Sc. D., in charge of the Academy of Natural Sci- 

 ences, Philadelphia, Pa., writes: 



"Many thanks for number one of your 'Butterfly Farmer.' The publication 

 is a good one and I wish it long life and prosperity. I am glad to see you are 

 instructing your correspondents who have commercial tendencies what to do and 

 what not to do. For many months I have been greatly annoyed by persons writing 

 to me to know whether we purchase insects. I have also had many personal 

 visits and phone calls. Of course, you can imagine the torn specimens of Pieris 

 rapas, Anosia plexippus, etc., that they wished to sell us. Our collection was com- 

 menced over a hundred years ago, and you can imagine it is not a small one. Of 

 course we do purchase desiderata, and, as you say in the Farmer, we would at 

 least like to know what the dispensers have to sell. We want certain rare butter- 

 flies particularly and will be pleased to learn at any time what you have for sale 

 among the rarities. I am pleased to see you have changed the form of your publi- 

 cation, as the former long sheets were awkward to handle and care for in a library 

 where most publications are in octavo size. If I can be of aid in your interesting 

 work in any way please let me know. Your work has made a great impression and 

 will do much for the study of lepidopterology. I am not much interested in the 

 commercial part, but feel that it will interest many people who will go into the 

 study for its own sake. In the past there have not been enough people interested to 

 co the work the subject merits." 



WHY CALL IT CORRESPONDENCE COURSE. 



Almost every one is familiar with what is known as correspondence courses. 

 Every subject that is taught, as far as I know, demands a vast deal of personal 

 work, study and correspondence from the pupil. A correspondence course in 

 entomology differs greatly in many respects from the courses usually advertised. 

 The beginner in entomology wishes to know how to collect, breed and preserve 

 specimens and where to market them. The scientist, who knows far more of 

 these subjects than I do, is satisfied if he gleans some single hint from his fellow 

 scientists which will prove of value. Dealers and purchasers subscribe for the 

 course because it gives them, without charge, an opportunity to find patrons. The 



37 



