Insects. 5*253 



and, as T see my name mentioned, beg to say that I do not at all agree v\ith him in 

 the idea that Lancashire entomologists have done anything to entitle them to " brag" 

 over others: we certainly work under some disadvantages, having neither a good 

 library of reference nor an extensive general collection to refer to, and much time is 

 lost in finding out what is already known, but he appears to have overlooked one or 

 two considerations which would have reduced his claim considerably. The North of 

 England was, a generation ago, almost unexplored for insects, and therefore sure to 

 furnish novelties, and the finding of them does not necessarily imply extraordinary 

 talents: Lancashire and the neighbouring counties contain, I imagine, more men who 

 collect for sale than most other places, and as the great majority of these men care 

 only to know how to get specimens, and what they will fetch in the market, they only 

 merit the same praise as any other industrious producers of saleable articles ; local 

 insects are certainly " made common " by them in collections for a year or two, 

 and scarce for a long time afterwards ; but there is no scientific credit due for their 

 discoveries: what merit there is at all in being accidentally the first to find a " new " 

 insect I do not know. It appears to me also that, in some cases, Mr Gregson's zeal 

 has led him to make over-statements, where other collectors have discovered the 

 species, and his clients have followed them up and made them common, but, as I am 

 away from books, if I particularise from memory, I shall perhaps only display my 

 own ignorance. I should, however, like to know when Daplidice, Fraxini and some 

 others were " doubted as British;" certainly not when the specimens he mentions 

 were taken, for Daplidice was taken and bred at Dover many years ago, and 

 my friend Edleston has had for many years a specimen of Fraxini, which was 

 taken near Manchester, and both events are mentioned in the ' Entomologist' or early 

 numbers of the 'Zoologist,' to which he refers; particular specimens were and are 

 doubtful, especially sea-port ones, but not the species. If such papers as this, by 

 exciting emulation, tend to advance the science, it is well; but if not, they can only 

 gratify a petty vanity and excite ill feeling, and ought to be suppressed : let us all 

 work as hard as we can in discovering the unknown in Entomology, and there is 

 work for a hundred lives, and no necessity for jealousy from want of room, and any 

 extraordinary talent or assiduity is sure eventually to be appreciated. I do not know 

 why Mr. Stainton makes Lancashire collectors the chief whetstone for his wit: the 

 last time he used us he compared us to Yankees, but quite misstated the character of 

 our cousins, though they do talk they certainly do a considerable amount of work, 

 and if the comparison be just, it is not uncomplimentary. Mr. Stainton continually 

 ridicules collectors generally, because they do not know all that Continental ento- 

 mologists have done, and do not find at once in Britain all the insects which may 

 occur here, and especially those of which the habits are known abroad ; he forgets 

 that few entomologists are rich enough to possess a foreign library, and that most of 

 us are too far away to avail ourselves of his liberality on a Wednesday evening; but, 

 for all that I can hear or see, it is just as much a matter of luck with those who have 

 these advantages as with us who have them not : example is proverbially better than 

 precept, and a few insects found by mere force of will to do so, will be a better 

 stimulant and rebuke to men of little determination than a whole ' Intelligencer' full 

 taunts and sarcasms. — John S. Ashworlh ; Llangollen, August 15, 1856. 



Colias Edusa. — A single example, the first I have heard of this year, was noticed 

 flying near Ryde on the 31st of July, a somewhat earlier date than usual for its ap- 

 pearance with us. — A. G. More ; Bembridge, Isle of Wight, August 15, 1856. 



