134 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, 
applied only to niy little paper on the 
Geodephaga. 
Next he says I showed him the speci- 
mens in question. I only name this to 
show the value of his opinion, which, 
further on, he seems to have no objection 
to my^holding: one half of those he first 
picked out of the wonderful series I 
showed him were not Capsophila, and 
the fifth specimen he touched he con- 
fessed be had no idea what it was ; the 
sixth he moved was returned to its place 
as a poser, and he made out one as 
Carpophaga. So much for Mr. Birchall’s 
opinion and my conversion. 
Again, he says I have on several occa- 
sions pronounced Mr. Barrett’s insect 
Capsincola, when he knows full well I 
never but once saw any of his specimens, 
and they were two poor specimens which 
Mr. Greening had already called “ Poor 
Capsincola ,” and upon being shown which 
in a dark office, with the gas burning in 
the day time, I pronounced to be very 
near their proper place as they stood 
(there being two fine bred Capsincola 
next to them in the box), whatever they 
were, but my opinion was they were only 
poor Capsincola , and not only gave the 
insect the benefit of the doubt, but abso- 
lutely sketched the abdomen of a female 
Capsincola for Mr. Birchall’s guidance, 
and recommended him to write to his 
friend to send him a female, if possible. 
Up to this time Mr. N. Cooke was the 
only person who had a different opinion 
to Mr. Greening and me ; and I feel quite 
satisfied, from Mr. Birchall’s communi- 
cation, that he has not now , and will not 
have, any opinion at all as to what it is 
until some one tells him, and it seems 
equally certain that the friend to whom 
he sent good specimens is also without 
any fixed opinion as to what it is yet, if 
we are to take Mr. Birchall’s word for it. 
The same remarks evidently apply to its 
discoverer in Ireland. 
Such being the case, I hold I was 
quite at liberty to exhibit my specimeus 
where I liked, and to try to do what all 
these gentlemen had failed to accomplish, 
and possessing like them M. Guenee’s 
own book, I pronounce it my authority for 
the name of Capsophila — given by me to 
my friends’ insects : surely I am at liberty 
to use it, and if I succeed in mastering 
what they fail in, “small blame to 
me,” as Paddy said. I never heard of 
any doubt Mr. Birehall or his friends 
had about its being Capsophila, Gn., 
until I read it in a letter from Mr. 
Birchall, dated December 23, 1860, re- 
plied to by me on the same date from 
Boutliport. Hence I was not aware that 
the announcement was kept back until 
its correct name was ascertained. If, 
however, they had any reasons such as 
assigned, is it to be expected that I 
should sacrifice my friends, to whom I 
am under very great obligations for their 
liberality in placing all their specimens 
in my hands to be worked out, to his 
friend, whom I do not know, and never 
before heard of? 
Mr. Birchall is right when he says I 
am jealous of a first discovery: I am 
jealous of such, and not without reason ; I 
am also jealous of my friends’ honour, and 
will never let them be forestalled if I can 
prevent it, neither will I be a party to 
their forestalling others unfairly ; but if 
they or I, or both combined, can work 
out a question whilst other people are 
“ doubting, fearing,” let them look to 
their laurels; I am no laggard, neither 
will I allow any one to quote just so 
much as will suit his purpose from a 
newspaper, and to get off scot free, as he 
steals “ my good name ” either privately 
in letters, or by implication in published 
