116 
THE SUBSTITUTE. 
pamsiie from this larva and will 
lend a specimen with its case to 
me I shall be much obliged. This 
larva, feeding as it does on the 
tops of the Galium in the most 
exposed situations, it seems strange 
that birds and parasites do not at- 
tack it. About two years ago I 
stated this at the Society of Bri- 
tish Entomologists as reported ii> 
the ‘ Zoelotrist,’ and I was replied 
to by a correspondent of the ‘ Na- 
turalist,’ under the signature of 
“ Bombyx Atlas,” who, I think, 
stated that he had bred one. If 
“ Bombyx Atlas” is still in the 
perfect state, and this should meet 
his eye, and he will dn>p me a 
note on the subject, the favour 
shall not be forgotten. — H. J. 
H.\iiniNG, 1, York Street, Church 
Street, Shoreditch ; Dec.}], 1856. 
Announcements of Duplicates . — 
It was with great stirprise I read, 
at p. 78, the statement of one of 
your correspondents, signing him- 
self “ One of the Sufl’erers,” of the 
illiberal treatment he had tnet 
with, and I should not do jtislice 
to my feelings if I did not state 
how very different my experience 
of my entomological brethren has 
been. I am not aware that I ever 
made an application for assistance 
which did not receive an imme- 
diate and courteous reply, and I 
have often read the letters of my 
correspondents to my friends, as 
evidence of the good feeling, libe- 
rality and interest in one another’s 
pursuits which, I think, distinguish 
entomologists, even when total 
strangers to each other. I am sure 
I have seldom been able to make 
an adequate return for what has 
been sent to me, and if it be true 
that “ nioi/ of your readers” will 
only part with an insect when they 
are offered a quid pro quo, I have 
been singularly fortunate, for all 
my correspondents seem to belong 
to’the minority; and, on removing 
to this country, it was a pleasant 
anticipation that, on new ground, 
I might perhaps have an oppor- 
tunitv of repaying some of the load 
of obligation I was under to many 
gentlemen personally unknown to 
me. Perhaps, if your correspon- 
dent will have a little patience, he 
will get both answers and insects; 
an offer of duplicates in the ‘ In- 
telligencer’ or ‘Substitute’ often 
overwhelms an entomologist w’ith 
applications, which he may not 
have leisure titne to reply to at 
once. Every one must speak of 
the world as he finds it: my 
experience is that a stingy, bargain- 
ing spirit is very rare among ento- 
mologists.— Edwin Birchall, 27, 
Eden Qua}/, Dublin ; Dec. 8, 1856. 
The Cabinet Question. — I am 
able to confirm your remarks, that 
hitherto absurd prices have been 
paid for cabinets. I was wanting 
one, and, on making inquiry for 
the best place to secure a good 
substantial article, was referred to 
London, with the additional infor- 
mation that I should have to pay 
a guinea per drawer. Now I knew 
sufficient of materials and labour 
to satisfy me that this was an ex- 
orbitant price. About a month 
ago I engaged with a person in 
this place, to whose work-rooms I 
could have constJint access to en- 
able me to superintend the con- 
struction of one. I furnished the de- 
sign, we together selected the wood, 
— good foreign walnut in the solid 
for the case and yew for the fronts 
of the drawers; the latter a very 
