THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 165 
in the formation of their new collections 
from the collector of Boulogne {vide ‘ In- 
telligencer,’ No. 119). It is indifference 
to letters upon these subjects that is the 
cause of silence now, and whoever writes 
upon them cannot bring forth anything 
new that can be considered an improve- 
ment, or rather they do not, but merely 
continue to repeat the old ones. 
Dr. Staudinger evidently does not un- 
derstand what our notions are ; therefore 
it will not be out of place here to acquaint 
him with this fact, that we wish our col- 
lections to be representative of the Fauna 
of the united kingdom. In opposition to 
this. Dr. S. and a few others propose 
the very plan that would destroy the 
indigenous character of our collections. 
Dr. Staudinger wishes to force his 
notions upon us with the following argu- 
ment, which if true would be no reason, 
as it does not apply : he says, “ The 
British Lepidoptera were not originally 
created upon British ground, but have 
migrated thither, like the British people.” 
But the British Lepidoptera, like the 
British people, have attained a peculiar 
character, and the British Lepidopterists 
say this character shall he maintained ; 
and, moreover, we believe the Science of 
Entomology will best be promoted by 
each and all of us making our study the 
productions of our immediate neighbour- 
hoods ; whether it be situated in England 
or Prussia, or any other country, the stu- 
dent or the professor will find he has 
before him more work than he can 
accomplish, even as a collector; but 
surely by so working our own districts 
we should better understand what we 
possess, and our productions be more 
complete. This is proved by Dr. Stau- 
dinger in his recent letter, thus, “ In 
the collections of Lepidoptera in Great 
Britain there is not to be seen a specimen 
from the Continent of Europe.” No, we 
have quite enough to do to study our 
own. He continues, and heie we have 
seldom the good fortune to possess any 
British examples.” Of course not ; how 
how can they collect at home and abroad? 
This letter shows how the Continentals 
profess to have what they have not, — viz. 
collections of European insects, — when 
they have no British specimens ; so that, 
if one judges from the appearance of 
their collections, “ it almost seems that 
the British Lepidoptera do not belong to 
Europe:” therefore, to remedy this de- 
fect, the Continentals should either make 
less profession or come to England and 
collect the British species for themselves, 
instead of trying to persuade us to col- 
lect for them. 
Again, Dr. Staudinger continues his 
argument, and says, “Further, rich as 
the Lepidopterous Fauna of Great Britain 
is, yet it is not nearly rich enough to 
enable one to construct from it alone 
even a tolerable system.” Why, no one 
ever imagined it could be done ; nor with 
the addition of the productions of the 
Continent of Europe, could a complete 
system be formed. Then why use such 
arguments as these? or, if you have no 
other kind, why not continue them, and 
say, that as the Turks came from Asia, 
and as Europe and Asia were always 
joined, the Lepidoptera have had always 
a free path, it would be very interesting 
to see what changes the land of dates 
and palms have wrought in the forms 
originally set free, and in consequence it 
is highly necessary that we pretend to 
collect Asiatic species also? We Eng- 
lishmen have no such pretensions ; what 
we pretend to is to form collections of 
British insects, to have them in all their 
varieties, so that when a spirit of the 
right dimensions — a man of full stature — 
essays to give us a better system, be will 
have in England materials that he may 
rely upon is British, thereby helping him 
in his compilation. But, for the better 
knowledge of the distribution of species, 
a ticket attached to each specimen, 
as Dr. Staudinger suggests, would cer- 
tainly be very desirable, particularly if 
