CORRESPONDENCE. 
317 
ecclesiastic residing in the city of Mexico. He conceived that as the busos (divers) 
lose much time and also injure their health in their repeated descents and ascents, 
there would be immense benefit derived from -taking advantage of the facilities 
afforded by the diving-bell for exploring the depths of the ocean. Furnished 
with a mask and a flexible tube, the diver, he conceived, would be enabled to 
explore not merely the space immediately below the bell, but all around it as far 
as the length of the tube would permit. This tube was connected with the body 
of the bell, which not only acted as a reservoir for the supply of air, but also as 
a place of refuge or resort when the diver was exhausted. Humboldt says that 
he saw a number of experiments made with this apparatus in a small lake or 
pond near the castle of Chopoltepec ; and remarks that it was no doubt the first 
time a diving-bell w r as constructed at a height of upwards of 7,000 feet above the 
level of the sea. 
It would appear that subsequently the priest, the maker of this diving-bell 
(which was made of wood), proceeded to California, and was reported to have 
realized, by means of it, a large fortune in a short period. We have, however, 
no authentic account of the expedition. The diving-bell of the London Associa¬ 
tion was, we believe, not a whit more advantageous to the progress of pearl-fishing 
or to the shareholders in London, than was that of the good Padre, even if it had 
never left its native pond at Chopoltepec. Some very ineffectual attempts seem 
to have been made, but not at all of a kind to decide the impracticability of such 
a plan of fishing : and we believe we may safely say that this problem remains 
still to be solved. 
[We shall probably be happy to review the work from which the above is 
extracted, when published, and if we are favoured with a copy. —Ed.]] 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Which is the best Catalogue of British Insects? 
To the Editor of the Naturalist. 
Dear Sir, —Having been a subscriber to The Naturalist since its first appearance, 
I have long ago perceived with satisfaction, the readiness and pleasure you have 
at all times evinced in giving to your inquiring friends all the valuable informa¬ 
tion you are possessed of. Agreeing with the remarks of a correspondent 
regarding apologies (Vol. IV., p. L95), I shall not trespass more upon your 
timejwith offering one, or making any further observations, simply than by stating, 
2 t 2 
