284 Clironicles of Science. [April, 



usual, been contributed to tbe Society's Proceedings, but of these we 

 give only tbe titles. " On the Action of Ammonia on Sulpho-cbloride 

 of Phosphorus," by Dr. J. H. Gladstone and Mr. Holmes ; " On the 

 Artificial Formation of Pyridine," by Mr. Perkin ; " A Note on the 

 Action of Chloropicrin and Chloroform on Acetate of Potash," by Mr. 

 H. Bassett. 



V. ENTOMOLOGY. 



(The Entomological Society of London.) 



It is usually our custom to include an account of the progress made 

 in any section of Natural History in one of the Chronicles devoted 

 to that branch of Science ; but a special reference to the state of 

 Entomological Science is rendered necessary by the Eeport recently 

 issued by the parent Society in London. 



Entomology is not thriving. It has lost some of its most ardent 

 votaries, and there are no doubt many of our readers for whom it will 

 suffice to mention the names of two of its disciples who have passed 

 away, William Kirby and William Spence, to awaken in them a fresh 

 enthusiasm for their favourite pursuit, and to remind them how need- 

 ful it is that the labours of those veterans should not be permitted to 

 eclipse the present and future contributions to Entomology. 



We have before us at this time a note, written in a clear and firm 

 hand, received from Mr. Spence in December, 1858, concluding with 

 the announcement that " the whole of the 7th thousand of our book " 

 (Kirby and Spence's Entomology) " are sold, and five hundred of 

 the 8th thousand." The same note contains references to " what has 

 been doing in Entomology this year," and gives us a vivid picture of 

 the brave old man, who, to the close of his life, was so devoted and 

 liberal a supporter of his science. 



Without wishing to charge the living generation of Entomologists 

 with apathy, we cannot help feeling that when those two stars waned, 

 a shade passed over the science, which the united labours of Stainton, 

 Newman, Westwood, Bates, Blackwall, Dallas, Lubbock, and others 

 equally famed, have not succeeded in dispelling. 



Mr. Pascoe, the President of the Entomological Society, has 

 placed before the votaries and students of his branch of Natural 

 History an address* containing a concise account of its present 

 position and future prospects, and it affords us great satisfaction 

 to give it a wider publicity, for it is well worthy of the attention of 

 all scientific men, and merits a hearty response from all the lovers 

 of Natural History. Mr. Pascoe tells the members of the Society that 

 he cannot congratulate them on an increase of their funds, and that 

 although their library is increasing in value, and the Transactions 

 (which are sold at half-price to town members, and delivered free to 

 country members) have never been so important as now, their sale is 



* The Address of the President of the Entomological Society of London, 1865. 



