THE SUBSTITUTE; 
Or, Entomological Exchange Facilitator, and 
Entomologist’s Fire-side Companion. 
No. 14.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1857. [Price 2d. 
LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
It is scarcely possible to draw up 
I a list of the insects of a district 
without the co-operation of several 
persons, for some species are so 
scarce that they fall to the lot of 
few, and others are so local that 
one only out of many collectors in 
a place may know of their exist- 
ence. If, then, neighbourin'; col- 
lectors remain isolated they are 
mutually impoverished both in 
specimens and knowledge, where- 
as if they were united together 
there would be a corresponding 
benefit to each of them. It is 
true they might impart their in- 
formation to each other without 
being formally associated into a 
Society, but the stimulus of esprit 
du corps, which is a main element 
in the composition and success of 
all Societies, would be wanting. 
It is not necessary that a local 
association should possess a col- 
lection of insects, which, as expe- 
I rience has proved to large 
Societies, is only an encumbrance, 
I but it might well manage to have 
I a selection of standard books. 
Scientific books are expensive 
things, and beyond the reach of 
most individuals ; but a very ser- 
viceable library might be procured 
by the united subscriptions of a 
few persons. Probably one of the 
members could give the books 
house-room ; but for many rea- 
sons the meetings of the Society 
had better be held at the homes of 
the members in rotation. In few 
places would there be enough en- 
tomologists to constitute a “ So- 
ciety” proper ; generally “Club” 
would be a more appropriate 
designation. The rules of the 
Club should be few and simple, it 
being understood as a sine qua 
non that every member will so be- 
have as not to make himself dis- 
agreeable to others — very trite and 
old-fashioned advice, but unfor- 
tunately not the less necessary. 
Associations of earnest and unsel- 
fish men would not only be able 
to investigate the Entomology of 
certain districts, and discover 
what species they possess, but 
they would establish data with 
respect to the distribution of spe- 
cies, and increase the qualifica- 
tions of the members as scientific 
p 
