Kovács I. Endre szerk.: Rovartani Közlemények (Folia Entomologica Hungarica 16/22-30. Budapest, 1963)

others have been professional or amateur collectors, selling abroad the insect material discovered or collected by them. Numerous valuable observations, and discoveries were thus lo3t for the lore of our national science. For the flourishing of entomological investigations, the reorganization of the National Museum in 1870 was an all-important occasion. Namely, the Zoological Department was than established, with an ever increasing staff of professional entomologists. In the eighties, there was a number of expert entomologists, with a host of amateur collectors. Came the time,when G. HORVÁTH, an already famous entomologist, launched- an entomological gazette. The periodical „Rovartani Lapok" was duly published in 1883, but it was discontinued after three years. This was the period of which G. HORVÁTH wrote later /in 1911/. that when he edited the first numbers of the Entomological Gazette, he never dreamed that Hungarian entomologists shall one time found an independent society. This pusillanimity was a real drawback, since it was one of the main reasons to cease publication,due to inadequate support. Another ten years went by before another enterprising man made the venture again: L. ABAFI-AIGNER, amateur lepidopterist succeeded where the great scientist failed. From the work of the excellent organizer and the readers of the Rovartani Lapok, - and mainly the entomologists of the Capital city, - the core of the future entomological society took form. In that era,entomological societies were already active in almost every great European country.The leading Hungarian entomologists were ordinary or corresponding members of numerous societies abroad. What, therefore, could have been the cause of the delay in officially establishing the Hungarian Entomological Society, until 1910? Entomological studies in Hungary followed two separate ways for a long time. One of them was chosen by a small