108 



AX ENTOMOLOGICAL DREAM. 



strikes me as appearing anomalous, and certainly not in accordance with 

 the opinions respecting the origin of the fungus recorded above by Dr. 

 Hooker. 



Elmore Court, February 7th. 1857. 



AN ENTOMOLOGICAL DREAM. 



Os butterflies, larvae, and moths intent, 

 One bright and cheerful morning I went, 

 Well supplied with boxes, to where there 



stood 

 In leafy majesty a mighty wood. 

 I thrashed all the trees, the net I whirled, 

 And opened every leaf I saw curled, 

 Till, weary, I laid me down by a stream, 

 And, with sleep overcome, I dream'd a dream. 

 One by one; there passed before me in state 

 All our Entomologists, small and great; 

 Their characters, thoughts, and works were 



laid bare, 

 All of which I noted down with great care. 

 Then, methought, a voice whispered soft 



and low, 

 The results of this dream the world must 



know. 

 Then hearken, my readers, male and female, 

 To the strange details of this dream-born 



tale. 



First appear' d Scoliccformis A h, 



Agrotis in hand. Alas! what a dearth 



Of names there must be, when, day after day, 



We find moths green, brown, black, orange, 



and grey 

 Call'd Douglasii, Staintoni, and many more, 

 In proof how small is our classical lore! 

 Warringtonettus' & a very long name, 

 But it doesn't add much to the author's fame. 

 However, I cannot pause here to show 

 That in giving new names we're far too slow, 

 For a pleasant writer now calls on me 

 To give forth his name, to wit, C. K. B . . e. 

 His notes are writ in agreeable style, 

 And oftentimes lessen one's angry bile; 

 For Rhamni he pleads with persuasive pen, 

 And presses his plea once, twice, and again; 

 Then closing his desk, he seizes his net, 

 And let it be fair, or let it be wet, 

 He goes forth to catch some innocent flies, 

 Which may gladden his own or others' eyes, 



The butterfly-net so deftly he flings, 

 That thus he has captured many good things — 

 Iris, Alni, and C. obliquaria, 

 But his fame rests on Conspicuaria. 

 And now, obeying a general call, 

 Came E. C. B...n, of Daresbury Hall. 

 Ah! Mr. B, take a warning from me, 

 And don't buy Lathonia or Daplidice; 

 Honest dealers are just as scarce as they, 

 And, like them, you can't find 'em every day. 

 But I will not dwell on this subject here, 

 Having more to say, as will soon appear; 

 For it must be told, with shame and dismay, 

 That this pageant did not vanish away 

 Till certain shades had passed in review, 

 Of whom fame tells a story sad, but true. 

 After this I heard an argument hot, 

 "Has 2V. camelina two broods or not?" 

 "Most surely she has," says H. H....r 



C.e, 

 "A fact which I thought ev'ry tyro knew; 

 I had eggs in May, in August they spun, 

 And in September came forth number one. 

 What more can you ask to prove I am right ? 

 The matter is settled as clear as light." 

 "Pooh!" says E. S., "you know nothing 



about it, 

 And we Londoners, all of us, scout it. 

 Unmoved by the sneers of this first-rate hand, 

 Whose experience scarce goes beyond the 



Strand, 

 Our valiant C.e dons his armour again, 

 And tells us the how, the where, and the 



when; 

 Such clear facts he brings, and so well 



exprest, 

 That, "quoad the rustics," the war's at rest. 

 Then give all the honour where it is due, 

 To that staunch "Camelinist," H. H. C.e. 

 J. C . . s next claimed my notice and 



praise ; 

 For, though he's a light of earlier days, 



