Insects. 5077 



facilities ave not a few, and an attempt at the stopping up of one or two of these little 

 holes, which let in much light, is the object of the present paper. Let us take, for 

 example, the wrapper of almost any of the parts of the 'Zoologist,' and we will find 

 that there we have Lathonias, Daplidices, &C, advertised as always on hand, as well 

 as "such a collection of rarities as is not to he seen elsewhere," and no clew whatever 

 is given as to whether they are natives. Now first, passing by those who really are up 

 to the proper construction to be put on this mode of doing business, let us suppose 

 the 'Zoologist' falling into the hands of a simple workman whose taste inclines this 

 way. he at once perceives how, at a trifling cost, his little stock might be increased 

 and enriched, and so, without giving the matter further thought, he immediately 

 writes off for an example or two of these scarcer species: then by-and-bye this man 

 dies, — there has been no record kept of where he obtained these insects, — his little 

 collection by chance falls into the hands of some one who really knows their value, he 

 having naturally concluded that they could never have fallen to the lot of their first 

 possessor through any other means than his own net. Here there was no design to 

 "work the oracle," and does it not show how curiously rarities way get introduced 

 amongst us ? and how, no doubt, many have been gulled ? I must admit that getting 

 one or two novelties in this way would cost me a pang or two to abandon them, when 

 there was no one to disprove the notion that the original possessor had not captured 

 them, and I would be as willing to make every allowance for the tenacity of any of 

 my brethren under like circumstances. Then for those whose ambition does not soar 

 higher than the committing such deeds, 



" that a brother should 



Be so perfidious ! " 



see of what valuable assistance these advertisements are to him: he counts over and 

 calculates on his exchanges, and how nicely he will do the unsuspecting at about 

 three-pence a head, exclusive of repinning and resetting. Resetting has another 

 meaning in Scotch law ; and years may pass before such a game is detected, or, if it 

 for a moment glanced across the memory of any one, — first thoughts are purest, — he 

 would not allow himself to think that such an one could be hut honest. This article 

 has grown longer than I intended, and so, without quoting any more illustrations, 

 which might be easily done, and without in any way meaning offence to the worthy 

 editor of the * Zoologist,' would it be consistent to ask him to banish such notices 

 from the wrapper? or the present insertors might be induced to state which insects 

 are foreign and which are British, and not leave us to imagine "whichever we like, 

 we pay our money and we have our choice." — Id. 



Terra Incognita. — There exists among British entomologists a great partiality for 

 established localities, which, though perhaps commendable, does very little to increase 

 our knowledge of the distribution of insects or the species inhabiting our little island. 

 The collector knows the product of a particular locality, and cannot prevail upon him- 

 self to visit a new district where the result may be uncertain and unsatisfactory, yet if 

 by chance a rich locality is discovered he is not slow to avail himself of it. An ex- 

 cuse can be offered for the entomologist whose occupation will only allow of a holiday 

 at rare intervals, for then the inducement to visit a spot where his perseverance is 

 likely to be rewarded is considerable ; but for the entomologist whose time is his own 

 none can be urged. It is for him to seek the secluded nooks and corners of Britain, 

 where an insect-hunter is yet an unknown visitor; it is for him to extend and enrich 



