184 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



made, so that the members would be assured of receiving the full value of 

 their money in any case. The cabinets would be of very best make, with 

 mahogany front, the drawers glazed, corked, and papered, and are strongly 

 recommended to me by those who have had them. 



BOXES. 



Mr. GihVs note on this subject, brought a larger demand for boxes than 

 I had expected, I have now a fresh stock and can send at once, at 4/6 each, 

 carriage free. I need scarcely say that neither Mr. Anderson, who is assist- 

 ing me in these matters, nor myself have any gain. We are only desirous to 

 put the best article possible into the hands of young naturalists, at the 

 lowest possible price, believing that proper receptacles for their captures is- 

 one of the best encouragements that can be given. 



IMPOSITION. 



It has always been my study in conducting the Young 'Naturalist to warn 

 beginners, whose purse might be longer than their experience, against the 

 means that are adopted to palm Foreign specimens of rare British species upon 

 them. I take some pride in having exposed the Hera swindle, and in stop- 

 ping the Artemisia business. I have always refused to publish the report of 

 a reputed capture when the surroundings were shady, but 1 notice now a new 

 plan has been adopted by certain dealers. The announcement of captures 

 in the magazines have been dropped, as being too much open to comment and 

 criticism. In lieu of this some gentleman is induced to exhibit a specimen at 

 the meetings of one or other of the Entomological Societies, and then the reputed 

 capture gets to the public through the report of the meeting. To advise young 

 naturalists to disbelieve in the authenticity of anything exhibited at such 

 meetings, except by members, would be going too far, but there can be no 

 harm in advising them not to purchase such insects. In fact, the best plan 

 for beginners to adopt, is not to purchase anything very rare under any cir- 

 cumstances. You may safely rely on one thing : there are enough buyers of 

 rarities in the market to snap up all really genuine specimens before they are 

 offered to ) ou. Be content to fill up your rows of common things first, 

 scarcer species will come by degrees, and then when you have but a few 

 blanks in your cabinet, you will have experience enough to know whether 

 the reputed capture is probable. One of the first collectors I ever knew, had 

 among his first year's specimens, Lathonia, EupkorMce, Galii, Nerii, Pul~ 

 chella, and I don't know what else, and for some of them he had given long 

 prices. 



