Neath, Glamorganshire
Octr. 3rd. 1845.
Dear Sir1
You perhaps think that I have quite forgotten any promise of writing to you, but the fact is that I have been for the last 3 months July-Sept.? Left Leicester at Midsummer2 so very busy that I have really not had time, or even when I could get a little leisure the low state of my Entomological finances prevented me — All the finest weather of the latter part of the summer has been spent by me in a manner which you might consider very favorable to Entomolical [Entomological] pursuits — viz. in surveying & levelling among the most romantic parts of this beautiful & highly interesting district — But it is really astonishing the few insects which come unsought upon one's view; and though I keep a constant look out at all times when my attention is not otherwise engaged yet but scanty are my gleanings — [2] One day whilst traversing in a most romantic rocky glen surrounded by the most magnificent precipices I discovered a fine larva of the Elephant Hawk moth (Deilephila Elpenor) which I have now just about to change into a pupa and this is about all worth mentioning —
For the past few weeks after leaving Leicester I had a little leisure & took several nice Coleoptera — a list of such as I have duplicates of I send & trust there may be some which will be acceptable to you — The great abundance of "Phyllopertha horticola" & "Hoplia argentea" is one feature of this neighbourhood, the former I could have taken by thousands everywhere.
"Melasoma populi" I took in great quantities on the dwarf willow on Crymlin burrows — The larva of "Lasiocampa rubi" is now very abundant here feeding both on the bramble but also very plentifully found on mountains feeding on the Common heath. (calluna vulgaris) — I am afraid [3] they live through the winter as I see no symptom of those I have giving up eating —
The following is a list of my duplicates —
| Coleoptera | Remarks |
| Prystonychus terricola. — | common |
| Hoplia argentea — | common |
| Phyllopertha horticola — | very abundant. |
| Cetonia aurata. — | nr. [near] London. not taken here — |
| Cryptorhynchus lapathi — | rather common |
| Pachyta livida. — | nr. [near] London |
| Donacia cincta — | abundant. |
| D. [Donacia] — impressa — | Kew Gardens |
| Auchenia 4 maculata — | rather common, in certain localities |
| Galeruca capreae — | rather common, in do — |
| Haltica ferruginea — | common |
| Melasoma populi — | local — |
————————————————————————————————————
The following I have taken & can no doubt get duplicates of next year —
| Cionus scrophulariae — | abundant |
| C. [Cionus]. Thapsi — | common — |
| Cleopus pulchellus — | not scarce. |
| Sphaerula lythri — | |
| Hydronomus Alismatis | |
| Galeruca rustica | |
| Haltica Erucae |
[4] I hoped to have had some nice butterflies to send you but I have been out of the way of them on all the fine days —
The Grayling butterfly (Hipparchia semele) is abundant here but I have not yet had an opportunity of getting good specimens — Have you it at Leicester? —
I got Shuckard's Coleoptera3 delineated, at Bohn's4 — They have bought the work & sell it for 18s. — at which price it is well worth having as it is a most beautiful & useful work — Remember me to your friend Mr Kirby5.
Hoping you will write me a letter full of Entomological news I rem [remain] | Yours sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]
To Mr Bates
[in pencil] Oct. 3. 1845.
Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP343.343)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP343,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on