14 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
will not attempt to say: I only know they 
were more than enough to vex two col- 
lectors. 
Some days since a brother of the net 
and pin called on me with the electrifying 
news that, after forty hours search, he 
had taken four larvae of D. Galii. No 
one, who was a free agent, could sit still 
after that; and an early day was at once 
fixed on which to meet, and see if there 
yet remained another prize for the reward 
of due diligence. Accordingly on the 
Ga/inw-carpetted sand we met, and for 
three long hours hunted most assiduously, 
sometimes on hands and knees, sometimes 
with crooked neck and back, till within an 
inch of apoplexy, but of nothing better 
than Macroglossa Stellatarum could we 
find a trace. Almost beaten, we were 
just thinking of giving over, when — in 
defiance of all the rights of labour — a 
fine fat D. Galii gave himself up, in a 
pathway, to some ladies who were walking 
carelessly along. 
The sight of this set us off again, but 
it was now too late ; darkness was coming 
on, and trains and ferry-boats won’t wait ; 
so, after some profound remarks on fate 
and the doctrine of chances, we were 
obliged to part and retreat. Not a hun- 
dred paces intervened between us, before 
— to use my friend’s poetical language — 
he suddenly heard under foot a loud 
“ Pop 1 ” — the sound as of au exploding 
gooseberry, — and back I was summoned 
to behold the object of our search in a 
state of mortal collapse, fit only for being 
operated on by a blow-pipe : he had 
stepped on D. Galii ! 
Most sincerely did I share his vexation, 
but soon remembering the uselessness of 
grief, I resolved forthwith to mend my 
luck, and deserve success by further 
efforts. Nor did many days elapse before 
1 was again on the hunt — traversing the 
sand to and fro with eager eyes: again 
did the three hours’ search prove fruitless, 
and I was looking at my watch to see 
how many minutes I might safely stay, 
when, at that very instant, I was aware 
of a row of yellow spots close to my feet ; 
in a moment I was on my knees: there 
lay — crushed as to the portion of his 
frame, which, though not reckoned so 
honourable as the head, is yet indispens- 
ably necessary to creatures which live by 
eating — the first and last D. Galii I have 
yet found! Had I guessed the time 
without looking at my watch, or had I 
stood still whilst I was looking at it, in 
another minute the prize would have 
been safe in my box ; but so it was not 
to be ! 
I shall search yet again ! In the mean 
time it is no small consolation to have 
had a fine larva given to me, which, for- 
saking Galium verum , is now making 
haste to grow fat on Mollugo, and will, I 
hope, soon find his skin so tight as to be 
obliged to cast it off for his pupa-case, 
and, in due time casting that also, emerge 
in all the glory of the perfect insect. 
Q. 
ENTOMOLOGY IN AMERICA. 
To the Editor of the ‘ Intelligencer.’ 
Sir, — You cannot but be aware of the 
difficulties that beset the American ento- 
molologist in a country where so slight a 
degree of attention is paid to this branch 
of Natural History; more particularly in 
regard to the young entomologist, who 
has no large and accurately labelled 
collection to refer to, or any complete 
and standard work to consult. In no 
order of insects has so little been done 
as with the Lepidoptcra, and in no order 
