84 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
SHARP DEALING. 
To the Editor of the ‘ Intelligencer.' 
Sir, — It is with the utmost reluctance 
that I undertake such a task as the pre- 
sent, but, feeling as I do that it is a duty 
I owe quite as much to entomologists in 
general as to myself, I am determined, 
however unpleasant, to go through with 
the matter, and trust you will allow this 
to appear in your paper. I am further 
emboldened to take this course, by a letter 
which appeared in the * Intelligencer,’ of 
April 23rd, from Dr. Kuaggs, begging 
young entomologists not to be afraid to 
come forward and expose these swindles, 
for under no other name can I class the 
transaction to which I am about to call 
your attention. 
On the 4th inst. I wrote to Mr. Joseph 
Rodgers, of 83, High Fields, Sheffield, 
in answer to an advertisement of his in 
that week’s ‘Intelligencer,’ and on the 
8th I received his answer, whereby it 
was arranged that I should send him 
two pairs of Coiias Etlusa and one pair 
of Grapta C-albmn, and was in return to 
receive two pairs of Nemeobius Lucina 
and one pair of Chcerocampa Elpenor. 
On the same day I sent off a box con- 
taining the above insects, all perfect and 
well-set specimens. On the 14th, having 
heard nothing of my box, I wrote re- 
questing to know if he had received it, 
and at the same time begging him to 
send it off immediately. On the 15th 
the box arrived, having crossed my letter 
in the post, and on opening it you may 
judge my surprise and disappointment 
on finding that it contained, not the in- 
sects he had promised to send me, but 
six damaged and unset specimens of 
Nemeobius Lucina , one of Phlogophora 
Meticulosa , and one of some Noctua, 
which, in my annoyance, 1 did not take 
the trouble to ascertain the name of. 
Besides all this the postage was short 
paid, and no excuse was made for not 
sending me the insects promised or for 
sending them unset. I immediately re- 
packed and posted the box, just as I had 
received it, requesting Mr. Rodgers to 
return me the insects I had sent him, 
and at the same time informing him 
that if he failed to do so I should expose 
him in the ‘Intelligencer.’ So that he 
should have no reason to say that I had 
acted hastily, or with undue severity, I 
have waited a week, and meant to have 
written to you to-day had the box not 
arrived. However, it is come, and this 
time contains, not my insects at all, but 
two damaged and ill-set specimens of 
Coiias Edusa (males, whereas I sent him 
two of each, males and females), and two 
similar ones of Grapta C-album. That 
they are not those I sent him I can 
prove by the pins, which are gilded, 
whereas I always use the ordinary 
sort. 
Hoping this may prove of some use to 
other young beginners, and at the same 
time a warning to all the sharp-dealing 
fraternity, 
I am, sir, 
Yours faithfully, 
W. Williams. 
Somerset House , Redland, 
Bristol ; Nov. 22. 
[We regret to state that we find that 
a number of innocent individuals have 
been victimized by the inconsiderate 
proceedings of Mr. Joseph Rodgers. We 
are informed that he is no collector of 
insects, and consequently there seems no 
motive for his strange transactions.] 
NATURAL HISTORY OF TIIE 
TINKINA. 
Tn consequence of the notice which I 
gave of Depressariu Assimilclla , in (lie 
‘Intelligencer’ (No. 104, p. 60), two 
