1866 Insects. 



to a cabinet, which may readily be commenced and carried out by the merest tyro in 

 the science. Most of the journals hitherto proposed pre-suppose the journalist to 

 possess a slight knowledge of entomology ; but the plan I suggest is unencumbered 

 with any such supposition ; and has the additional advantage of enabling the possessor 

 instantly to refer to the capture, &c. of every individual example in his collection at any 

 future period, notwithstanding the same may have been removed upon re-arranging 

 " many a time and oft ; '' and a small book of a few leaves will serve for many years. 

 Not so a journal of names ; such a one I commenced in 1810, and have carried on to 

 the present time, 1847 ! — very irregularly, in parts, it must be confessed, owing to the 

 enormous quantity of entries, sometimes more than 3000 in a month ! — till the num- 

 ber recorded has extended to between 30,000 and 40,000, a sad expenditure of labour, 

 and from its extent comparatively useless. 



According to the plan proposed, I assume the student takes up his subject in the 

 beginning of July, and makes his first excursion on the 7th, on which day he captures 

 some scores, or even hundreds, of specimens. Let him at starting be amply provided 

 with boxes, to enable him readily to subdivide his captures, which he finds it conve- 

 nient to do, as instanced, into nine sections, and on removing them from his setting- 

 boards, then attach a corresponding number to every individual specimen, all taken 

 from fungi bearing No. 2, and so forth. It then becomes evident on any future in- 

 spection of his collection, upon observing No. I attached to a specimen and referring 

 to his journal, that it was obtained at Darenth by general beating on July 7th, 1847, 

 and so on with the remainder : nay, his very duplicates will all become registered ; as 

 also his purchases, presents, &c, care being taken not to disturb the tickets. Again, 

 by employing tinted paper, on which to write the Nos., the year may be subdivided into 

 seasons : e.g., pale-green for the months of March, April, May ; pink for June, July, 

 August; yellow for September, October, November; and white for the remaining 

 months. 



In addition to the journal, a Remark Book may be kept for the purpose of recording 

 the habits, &c. of any particular insect, or of any special matters connected with col- 

 lecting, &c. ; which may be referred to by the original number, bearing in mind that 

 whenever such particulars are intended to be recorded, the insect inviting such atten- 

 tion, must alone bear the No., as at No, 13. 



Remarks. 

 By general beating of herbage. 

 From fungi (abundantly). 



„ under flints, in chalk-pit. 

 By beating the oak. 

 „ birch. 



„ ash (two specimens only). 



„ whitethorn. 



By sweeping grasses. 

 Taken flying. 



„ from under stones. 

 Who received it (or them) from Scotland. 

 „ captured it (or them) at Charlton, on 

 September Oth, 1846. 



No. 



Whence, Sf-c. obtained, 



Time. 



1 



Darenth Wood 





July 7, 1847 



2 



Ditto . 





?5 



3 



Ditto 





55 



4 



Ditto 





>J 



5 



Ditto 





if 



6 



Ditto 





>5 



7 



Ditto 





» 



8 



Ditto 





>> 



9 



Ditto 





»J 



10 



Greenhithe 





8 



11 



Purchased of A. 



B. 



»> 



12 



Received from C 



. D. 



10 



