WCP344

[1]

Neath,

Oct^r. 13th. 1845.

D[ea]r. Sir

I send you Insects you mentioned would be acceptable to you ^{and also a Biston Betularius I took 3 of at Leicester1} —. Galeruca rustica I have only taken one specimen of, but shall endeavour to get more next year — I am very much obliged to you for your long letter which has given me much pleasure & if you can spare the time I shall hope for another —

The difference between Donacia Impressa & D. Linearis is very slight but I think & hope I am right in the species —

I have taken Atopa cervina, here and also Serica brunnea, one of each [,] also one Cryptocephalus minutus — and near London by beating in an [2] oak tree I took one of the Buprestidae, a small species "Agrilus viridis".

I have taken also "Sphaerula Lythri" a small species of the Curculionidae, which perhaps you know.

I shall be much obliged to you for any of the following of which you can send me good specimens.

Chlaenius vestitus

Ophonus azureus

Chrysomela hyperici

Brachinus crepitans

Donacia dentata

D[onacia]. nigra — if you have any duplicates

Agonum marginatum

Dromius melanocephalus

D[romius]. angustatus.

Helops striatus.

Please name them —

[3] I shall be glad of any butterflies you have to spare —

Argynnis Aglaia or any other of the large fritillaries

Hipparchia Galathea &

Thecla quercus

both which I believe are Leicester species —

I have considerable thoughts of Setting up a Cabinet myself this winter — I have been thinking how to have it made the best & most economical method — How do you think it would do to have the drawers made with a groove at the top & the glass nicely squared to slide in & fit tight, with a piece at the end to finish up the square of the box — I think it would save the expense of a separate frame for the glass[.] [4] How is Mr Kirby's² made? —

Has he one of sides made double so as to leave a space for Camphor — that is very necessary.

I quite despair of ever getting a good collection of moths — I have had specimens of a good many species but very few good ones — The "rubi" larvae I shall not attempt to rear this winter³ — I do not see why I should not find some in the spring.

I have a very fine male moth of Lasiocampa Quercus from a larva I took at Leicester[.]

What Books do you get from the "Ray Society"?⁴ and are they such as you could not purchase for the Guinea elsewhere? —

"Colias Hyale"⁵ (if you were sure of the species) was I should think the rarest Leicestershire Insect you have seen — I send the Insects in a small collecting Box, which will be I think quite safe.

[5] I remain | Yours sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Mr H.W. Bates⁶