4 



The Na^turalist. 



(witli tlie exception of H. Blandovii), and, in addition, plenty of B, 

 squarrosum, occupjang tlie space of an acre at least. From the circum- 

 stance of your being tlie first discoverer of the plant in Britain, the 

 intelligence of a new station being detected, with a few specimens 

 therefrom (which I now enclose), may be interesting. I am sorry that 

 I have not been able to find it in a state of fructification ; but T shall 

 frequently have opportunities of visiting the place, and as this may not 

 be the proper season, I trust that I shall have the pleasure of finding 

 it at some future time. . . . H. nitens will yield an abundant 

 crop of fruit in this bog." 



Of the present condition of the above-mentioned locality I am sorry 

 not to possess any positive information. It is, however, understood 

 to have been drained, and the rarities mentioned have been wholly or 

 partially destroyed. 



ON THE CLASSIFICATION^ OF BRITISH INSECTS. 



By S, L. Mosley, Huddersfield. 



(Read before the Lane, and Ches. Ent. Soc, April 24th, 1882.) 

 The purpose of a classification of any objects — natural or other- 

 wise, is, I need scarcely state, to bring together those which are 

 nearest related. This is often not very difficult when we make a 

 number of common centres, or represent the various divisions like 

 the branches of a tree, all diverging from, and dependent on a 

 common beginner or ancestor, which doubtless is the most natural 

 way of arrangement ; but we have not yet discovered any method by 

 which this arrangement can be represented in a cabinet drawer, or a 

 set of unseen cases, and we are placed at some disadvantage by being 

 obliged to follow a linear arrangement, beginning at one point and 

 ending at another. Such an arrangement must, as a matter of course^ 

 be more or less imperfect, because the vaiious branched afiinities 

 cannot be adequately represented. However, there is a certain degree 

 of perfection attainable, and it is possible to so arrange most natural 

 objects as to show a more or less unbroken continuity from end to 

 end. 



The insect world forms a wide field for the ingenious mind 'to work 

 upon, for while its members agree in certain particulars, they are so 

 diversified in their structure and their habits, their similarities and 

 dissimilarities are so constant and so numerous, that it has been a 



