HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



247 



HOW CAN WE POPULARISE 

 ENTOMOLOGY ? 



A RAPID progress has been made of late years 

 in most branches of zoology, a progress which 

 is twofold, the students of each division having been 

 rewarded with discoveries far beyond anticipation, 

 and the pubhc generally having been led to regard 

 Natural History with a keener interest and an interest 

 marked also by more intelligence. Not only the 

 curious and beautiful in structure are beginning to be 

 appreciated, the habits and instincts of animals are 

 now regarded by numbers who are not professed 

 naturalists as worthy of observation and record. In 

 fact, as all editors of scientific or semi-scientific 

 periodicals know to their cost, a great many indivi- 

 duals of both sexes are most eager to communicate 

 to others the real or fancied discoveries they make, 

 and the sifting of these is arduous work, for it is ever 

 true that " the eye sees what the eye brings the 

 means of seeing," and even with the best intentions, 

 the inapt at observing is liable to fall into grave 

 blunders, though sometimes his very inaptness enables 

 him to seize upon some notable facts which the 

 more philosophic man might miss, just because it is 

 against recognised beliefs. Somehow or other. 

 Entomology is still, to an extent thrown into the back- 

 ground, the objects which it contemplates are often 

 regarded with indifference and dislike, and entomo- 

 logists meet with little favour amongst the educated 

 generally, while the ignorant m.ake no secret of their 

 ridicule. There are several things which account for 

 this, and these have been shrewdly dwelt upon by 

 Kirby and Spence. Some of these things will 

 always continue to be causes of popular prejudice and 

 dislike, since insects will ever inflict annoyance upon 

 men and animals, and commit ravages in the field, 

 the garden, the wood, and the house. Certainly from 

 time to time some misconceptions have been cleared 

 away, and some species proved to be less harmful 

 than was supposed ; yet more extensive researches of 

 recent years have brought to view a new host of 

 insect enemies. And really the insect-hunter is con- 

 fessedly, in some of his manoeuvres, exceedingly 

 amusing to those endued with a keen sense of the 

 ludicrous ; while those who have any practical ex- 

 perience of the injuries occasioned by insects, cannot 

 but .look upon the ordinary collector, pursuing his 

 netting, pinning and breeding operations as either a 

 comparative idler, who fails to destroy the most 

 troublesome insects, or as actually a public enemy, 

 insidiously favouring their multiplication. 



It is very desirable, both in the interests of the 

 science itself, and also for the sake of its votaries, 

 that Entomology should be placed on a better footing. 

 If we can but ensure for it some measure of popular 

 estimation, we should have its students rapidly 

 increase, and insect-lore would become as much 

 sought after as bird or fish-lore, which cannot be said 

 io. be the case at present, since the numerous books 



which have been published of late years, though 

 testifying to an improvement, do not show that 

 Entomology has so largely advanced in public favour 

 as some might imagine. A large proportion of these 

 are comparatively limited in their circulation, and 

 the illustrations attract a great deal more attention 

 than the letterpress does. 



We shall never popularise Entomology unless we 

 can largely increase the number of observers. The 

 ordinary "collector" maybe, and very often he is, 

 a painstaking and tolerably unselfish individual, but 

 he is too frequently blind to any facts in insect- 

 life which do not tend towards his immediate object 

 — the filling of his boxes or cabinets. Collecting, for 

 the sake of collecting only, is not a despicable thing ; 

 but we must endeavour to "step higher" if we wish 

 to assume the title of " entomologists," and prove to 

 the public that we love the science because of the 

 truths it discloses to us, and not only because by its 

 cultivation we are able to accumulate a fine array of 

 specimens, or to write ourselves the authors of 

 elaborate descriptions of species which scarcely any 

 one reads. Those who study insect -life for its own 

 sake, and in order to enrich, not a scientific clique, 

 but the world at large, by the discoveries they make, 

 must increase in numbers considerably ere Entomo- 

 logy can command such a share of public attention 

 as it is entitled to receive, for, when the extensive 

 fields of research which it embraces are considered, 

 it has a right to be placed nearly on an equality with 

 those other branches of zoology which have esta- 

 blished themselves in popular favour. 



An important movement is commencing with 

 reference to the instruction of the young in Natural 

 History, and, though as yet not much has been done 

 towards instructing juveniles in the alphabet of 

 Entomology, we may ere long see much accomplished 

 by this means, could we but have efficient teachers. 

 Prejudices against insects are so generally imbibed in 

 early life, and they adhere so firmly in spite of the 

 knowledge of after years, that to clear these off at 

 the outset would help greatly towards the opening 

 up of a new era. To produce neutrality is some- 

 thing, to forni a liking is more desirable still, and 

 this is possible amongst the bulk of children, who 

 take kindly to Natural History (even technically 

 treated) if it is not presented in the shape of a task. 

 I should gladly see getting into vogue not " lectures," 

 but rather " tallis " upon Entomology, of a character 

 suited to the young, and illustrated, not only by 

 diagrams, but by living objects ; the instructor 

 himself being heartily interested in the subject. 

 Occasional excursions might be taken by teacher and 

 pupils, as has been done in the case of juvenile 

 botanical classes with much success. Insect-life is a 

 million-paged volume of wonders, and children and 

 youth will not easily weary of it when it is vviseiy 

 unfolded to them, nor will such impressions be easily 

 effaced. J. R. S. Clifford. 



