THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



13 



more than one individual can properly work unless he has plenty of time, 

 and iu the second place, the implements and methods of collecting are differ- 

 ent. One who collects beetles and is working his district by searching under 

 stones and bark, beating, sweeping and using the water-net, etc., is not 

 likely to go out at night sugaring for moths, whereas catching moths at night 

 may suit another exactly. I think there can be no doubt, that as the science 

 is so vast there is quite room for specialists in its various branches, and for 

 those to exchange their duplicates, however common they may be, must be a 

 mutual advantage. 



At the present day exchanging is not prosecuted sufficiently. I feel con- 

 vinced there are lots of specimens in duplicate lying about, which would fill 

 gaps in somebody else's collection. To effect this end it seems to me the 

 best way is to cultivate the interchange of marked lists, now to be obtained 

 so easily and cheaply, so that each may know what the other wants. Of 

 course all idea of bartering, or effecting a good bargain is out of the question. 

 Should there be any such person I would say to him give up the idea at once, 

 for you will be soon detected, and your name passed round as one given to 

 sharp practices, and hence to be avoided by all. — Mutual Help. 



REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



December 1st, 1886. — Robert M'Lachlan, Esq., E.E.S., President, in 

 the chair. 



Mr. W. H. Miskin, of Brisbane, Queensland (formerly a Subscriber), 

 Mr. B,. E. Salwey, of Folkstone, and Mr. F. W. Biddle, M.A., of Beckenham, 

 were elected Eellows. 



Mr. Howard Vaughan exhibited a long series of Gnophos obsc?irata, com- 

 prising specimens from various parts of Ireland, North Wales, Yorkshire, 

 Berwick-on-Tweed, the New Forest, Folkestone, Lewes, and the Surrey Hills. 

 The object of the exhibition was to show the variation of the species in con- 

 nection with the geological formations of the various localities from which the 

 specimens were obtained. 



Dr. Sharp showed a series of drawings of New Zealand Coleoptera, by 

 Freiherr von Schlereth, which, though executed in pencil, were remarkable 

 for their delicacy and accuracy. 



Mr. R. Adkin exhibited specimens of Cidaria reticulata, recently bred by 

 Mr. H. Murray, of Carnforth, from larvee collected by him near Windermere, 



