10 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



at the commencement of the Young 

 Naturalist, that the establishment of 

 such a Club would be one of our aims. 

 Our idea then was perhaps too exten- 

 sive to be carried into practice, for we 

 did not propose to confine its opera- 

 tions to one branch, but to receive and 

 send out specimens of various things- — 

 to receive shells from one who wanted 

 eggs, or eggs from one who wanted 

 Lepidoptera. Perhaps it was this ex- 

 ten siveness that made members shy of 

 communicating with us on the subject, 

 for we have since learned that some of 

 our readers (chiefly Lepidopterists) not 

 only desired to join such a club, but 

 have actually collected long series of 

 various local species for the purpose of 

 sending them in. It appearing then 

 that such a club might perhaps be 

 established for the exchange of Lepi- 

 doptera, and possibly extended after- 

 wards, we are willing to do our part 

 towards giving it a trial. If there are 

 only enough who join it, it cannot fail 

 to be successful. The advantages we 

 see are, that by the institution of such 

 a club, its members will not exchange 

 as it were with single individuals, but 

 with the whole of the members at once. 

 This will enable them first, to dispose 

 of a larger number of their own dupli- 

 cates, and more particularly of one 

 species, and second to receive a larger 

 number of species. Besides it will 

 enable them to obtain species that they 

 could not otherwise obtain for their 

 insects. For instance A has a certain 

 species to spare, and wants another 

 species that B has to spare, but B has 



no need for A's duplicates, and there- 

 ' fore will not exchange with him. The 

 introduction of a third party however 

 ; makes the matter easy. C requires 

 • A's duplicates, and can give B what he 

 : wants. B requires C's duplicates, and 

 can supply A with his desiderata, 

 while A is glad to let his spare speci- 

 : mens go to C in exchange for the 

 ! insects belonging to B which he could 

 \ not obtain direct. If D, E. F, and 

 other letters of the alphabet are intro- 

 duced, so much better choice is given 

 to the whole of them. The members 

 of such a club, however, must do the 

 best they can for the other members, 

 and not want to give all common 

 things, and receive rarities in return. 

 If they will endeavour to act in the 

 j interest of the club it will be a success 

 j for every one concerned. "Will those 

 of our readers who are willing to join 

 | in the matter communicate with us at 

 j once, and state what species, and how 

 many of each they can spare, and what 

 they desire in return . When all the lists 

 are in we will know what can be done 

 for this season. After the first ex- 

 changes are accomplished, lists must 

 j again be sent in, and we will be able 

 i to inform the members what species 

 j are needed for next year, then they will 

 ! know what to try for during next 

 | season. There will be an additional 

 | advantage for those who join the Club, 

 i as several local insects are already 

 placed at our disposal by Entomologists 

 | whose collections are so nearly com- 

 I plete that they do not care for return 

 | for their duplicates, but prefer to help 



