THE BROUN COLLECTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 209, 29 May 1920, Page 7

THE BROUN COLLECTION

i?"V j 1 ? 1 ' 13 f°!'°wed with considerable attention the varied opinions 011 the above subject expressed in your columns bv several gentlemen intended in the matter., Upon the methods adopted for the retention of this collection in New Zealand I aui unable to express an opin--1011, , not being sufficiently acquainted with that feature of the problem, but it is beyond all doubt that the principle is sound, as every broad-minded person.' will acknowledge. Unlike many of our other insect upon wlilich more than one entomologist has been at work, and of which, in consequeuce, as many collections exist, moro or less similarly named, so that by the' loss of one there are the others to fall back upon, the Broun collection of beetles is unique, inasmuch that it ia t!«e only authentic one of its kind dealing with indigenous forms, and since the late Major Broun had been practically the only authority and worker on the New Zealand representatives of this eioup dur-l ing the past 50 years or so, before which but little had been done witln our beetles, his collection naturally contains most, if not all, of the .types recorded by liiiu during that period.

j\lthouglv it is for from the writer's intention to detract from tho value: of Bronn's monumental publications, anyono at all acquainted ivitli hip works, and who has endeavoured to utilise them in Hie identification of specimens, will know that from his writings alono it is froquently difficult, and sometimes impossiblo, to definitely identify material.' This is particularly so with regard to the many obscure divisions of the group. Such an unfortunate 6tsite of affairs is due, 011 the ono liand, not only to the absence of illustrations in the greater part of his works, but <';lso to the. nonexistence, beyond his own collection of authentically named duplicate collections accessiblo to those interested, and, on the other liand. to tho fact that Broun, though one of the best pjitomoloeists this country has possessed, was, unfortunately. not a comparative systematise

As has already been said, Broun wnei the only authority and worker upon tho. New Zealand but, nevertheless, for many years past an immense amount of material has been accumulated bv the, various museums throughout the country —particularly by the Dominion Museum.: —as wpll as by tho Department of Asrleulturo and many private individuals. Withl this material, then, it will lie far euch .-. lioDeless task, as considered by a correspondent in your issue of tho *?Tlh. to build up, willi the aid of lb» Broun collection .is a standard, not only' one but several duplicate collections of New Zealand beetles.

As is well known, tl>" British Jluscmn ha? its bands more Una full with insect material, tho recorr'J.-.', of which ill specialists cannot po;' ' accomplish fnr many years to come, - thai ihe retention.nf.the exiensivN- ■;..'incollection in ihe'.r'Dpunniom jl.usewi) .for a comparatively siort'-perjod. in i I'deivio lh;? sooner complete ft duplication which rotlld probably never bo done once the collection left our shores, is a. perfectly, justifiable act.—l am, etc.. DAVID JfIM.ET. Government Biological laboratory. Weraroa, May 27, 1920.