THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 173 
split, and the Edinburgh Society hiis 
had its exchanging operations greatly 
curtailed by the same cause — deficiency 
of funds. 
Rent of rooms, cost of boxes in which 
to arrange the duplicates, of shelves to 
put the boxes upon, and of printing 
annually the list of the wants of the 
Society, would quite absorb all that could 
be expected in the way of subscriptions ; 
there would certainly not be sufficient to 
pay for the shilled labour of such a Secre- 
tary as proposed, and the only way in 
which the plan could be carried out 
would be by a Committee of Entomolo- 
gists, who have time to spare, combining 
their labours, each one taking a group of 
a few hundred species t in this I should 
be willing to take a part, and I dare 
say others would, without difficulty, be 
found. 
Entomologists with good collections 
already could scarcely be expected to 
join, as they would get no adequate 
return : the great rarities would never 
find their way into the stores of such a 
Society. 
At present Lepidoptera is the only 
class of insects which could be taken up, 
but others could be added afterwards, if 
the first was successful : it is bad policy 
to commence on too extensive a scale. 
Some of the details of Mr. Merlin’s plan 
would not work well, I think, but 
perhaps I mistake his meaning; as, 
for instance, returning specimens of what 
are sent, which looks like sending coals 
to Newcastle; of course if they were 
unnamed or misnamed this would be 
necessary. 
To demand a certain number of species 
to be sent by each member is unadvis- 
able ; twenty specimens of a rare insect 
in fine condition are far better than one 
hundred bad examples of fifty species ; 
and the return should be proportionate 
to the contribution, or there is no sti- 
mulus to make each member do his best. 
I suppose by an “equal” division Mr. 
Merrill means “ equitable,” for a nu- 
merically equal one is impossible. 
In arranging the names of the mem- 
bers in the order in which their lists of 
desiderata shall be filled up, the principle 
to be followed is, first the value of their 
contributions, rarity and fine condition of 
specimens being of more account than 
numbers ; and, secondly, to give prece- 
dence, in some measure, to those who 
have fewest wants. I never found much 
difficulty in making the distribution of 
specimens at the London Botanical So- 
ciety on these principles: now and then 
an unreasonable man would grumble a 
little (usually one of the worst contri- 
butors), but generally I found the reci- 
pients well satisfied. 
A serious difficulty would be to know 
where to stop in rejecting bad specimens 
sent, and those of the rarer species which 
looked suspicious, and a good deal of im- 
pertinence must be expected by the com- 
mittee if they do their duty. The scheme 
of periodically selling specimens is open 
to objection : the Society should not take 
on itself the dealer’s province. 
I have written these observations to 
point out the parts of the scheme which 
require full consideration, as I approve 
the general plan and believe it prac- 
ticable and beneficial. 
I have the honour to be. 
Your obedient servant, 
J. T. SVME. 
ISew College, Edinburgh ; 
February 10. 
the aristocracy of the 
HUMBLE BEE. 
To the Editor of the ‘ lyiteUigencer.' 
Millfield Lane, Highgate, 
Oct. 20, 1858. 
Sir, — Whilst amusing myself the other 
morning amongst some roses which creep 
around a parlour-window at the above 
