THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
55 
from their condition, this seems to have 
been the case. As to those I selected, I 
received many, which, instead of being; 
as described, “ fine and perfect speci- 
mens,” were the most ragged rubbish 
possible, — many were valuable only on 
account of the weight of metal contained 
in the pins. Now, as the time I have to 
spare for entomological pursuits is very 
limited, — not more than two hours 
weekly (and larvae must be fed and in- 
sects set), — one can easily understand 
that three dozen boxes were not packed 
and sent off by return of post; on the 
contrary, although every available half- 
hour has been occupied with them, four 
still remain in my possession. 
But, as you say “a box,” perhaps it 
will he as well to know which of the four 
is that box. 
No. 1 I have only received during the 
past week, consequently it is not 
that. 
No. 2 is waiting (as the esteemed 
owner well knows) for an insect that 
is at present in pupa : it is not that. 
No. 3, box containing a miserable- 
looking Pyrale, with pin-holes 
through its scaleless and fringeless 
wings (described in the promissory 
note as “a fine bred specimen of 
S tenia Punctalis”) ■, for this a long 
series of several species *is re- 
quested, as the correspondent’s series 
is “ three rows of each insect.” 
No. 4, large box containing fragments 
of various species, several bodies and 
anteniiEe, not only broken off, but 
missing: these insects (which are 
entitled to respect on account of 
their venerable appearance and un- 
doubted foreign origin) have been 
liberally anointed with some greasy 
liquid for destroying mites. 
As it is evident one of the two last- 
named must be the box, I wonld ask if 
any one can justly blame me for leaving 
such trash to be the last attended to ; 
such was my intention, which would not 
have been altered if the owners had 
written every day for them. A friend j 
known (by name at least) to almost every 
entomologist in Britain, said he would 
have thrown the boxes in the fire or re- 
turned them unpaid, which perhaps would 
have been the best way. to punish such 
insect destroyers. 
Yours, &c., 
R. C. Cocking. 
High Street, Peckham. 
Since writing the above I beg to say 
that all the boxes I have received are 
now returned, without exception. 
November 8. R. C. C. 
[One gentleman who had written to 
complain of Mr. Cooking’s behaviour has 
since written to us, expressing himself 
perfectly satisfied; so that we trust 
Mr. Cocking is now perfectly free from 
any imputation.] 
To the Editor of the ‘Intelligencer,' 
Sir, — I must say a few words on be- 
half of Mr. Cocking, who has been un- 
deservedly attacked in your pages ; 
though the remarks are true, the query 
was uncalled for previous to an explana- 
tion. The moment I had read the para- 
graph alluded to I perfectly understood 
its meaning ; for Mr. Cocking, in reply 
to an application from me, stated that 
he was “ bewildered with the living and 
dead rubbish” he had received from a 
large number of applicants, and that the 
insects I had sent him were among the 
very few fine specimens he had received, 
and of course he served me in like man- 
ner. I was much pleased and very well 
satisfied with the way in which I was 
treated by Mr. Cocking. 
You know. Sir, it is no joke for a per- 
son to be entailed with the expense of 
returning boxes, and also answering a 
host of letters, because a lot of persons 
choose to write to you, calling imperfect 
things “ fine,” broken and rotten things 
