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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



unanimous in expressing their satisfaction with its results, I am of opinion 

 that the club has not by any means, had an opportunity of showing what it 

 could do, and if readers will kindly pardon the early recurrence to the subject 

 on account of its importance, what may be done by it shall be briefly 

 pointed out. Though the mode of working it was explained in the Magazine 

 only a month or two ago, it is necessary briefly to recapitulate it. The club 

 is divided into sets of ten members, for each of whom a small box is provided, 

 ten of which are securely packed in a larger box. This travels from member 

 to member by Parcel Post, at a cost of only 6d. per journey. Each member 

 places in his own box what duplicate insects he pleases, in any order, taking 

 in return from the other nine boxes whatever he may find useful to him. 

 All insects must be well set and in good condition, except that " type 

 specimen," of really rare species, may be sent. No other restriction is made 

 except that Lepidoptera, " common everywhere," are not to be sent unless 

 asked for, or when they bear some local or other peculiarity. One clear day 

 is given to each member for examination of the contents of the box, or in 

 other words, he must send it off on the third day, counting the day he 

 receives it and the day he despatches it as one each. It thus makes a round 

 in about a month. 



Such a club as this was not practicable unless on a very small scale, 

 prior to the Parcels Post. The cost of/ and risk in transmission before this, 

 was much too great. Let me now show the advantages it has as at present 

 carried on, and what it is capable of being made. Every member, once a 

 month, has the opportunity of examining nine boxes of insects from various 

 places, and selecting from their varied contents whatever may be useful to 

 him. Even of common species he thus obtains forms quite new to him. 

 During last year I obtained specimens of Selenia ittunaria that were 

 strikingly different from any I had seen, and yet were the ordinary form 

 where they had been obtained. Of course, when such as this occurs, the first 

 recipient does not take all there are. He will take a pair or so, and mark in 

 the note book that accompanies the box, the peculiarity he has noticed, and 

 express his desire for further specimens, which he will probably receive next 

 round, thus affording others the opportunity of seeing the insects that have 

 struck him as noteworthy, and obtaining other opinions upon it. Again, we 

 all know that among Entomologists, Lepidopterists bear the largest proportion, 

 and Coleopterists next, while the other orders receive but a scanty 

 share of attention. Still collectors like to set an insect or two that takes 

 their fancy, though not of the order they keep. By this club all such 

 specimens can be made useful, for it includes not only collectors of these 

 two favoured groups, but of Diptera, Hymenoptera, &c. I have thus sent 



