FURTHER HINTS TO YOUNG ENTOMOLOGISTS. 247 



of being considered as a " solitary," poet, or " body-snatcher" the entomologist 

 will do well to spend a portion of hi3 time amongst the tombs. Dead animals, 

 dung of cattle, bones, &c M are classed together in this summary, as some probably 

 may feel little inclination to meddle with them. If such is the case, it will most 

 assuredly be to their loss. The entomologist who conquers his disgust, will, by 

 the examination of these substances, add many valuable captures to his collection. 

 During the autumnal months insects are far less plentiful. Dyticidse- may be 

 obtained from the ponds, and a few llymenoptera and Thalcenacea may still be 

 met with. The winter occupation described above must again be resorted to. 



I cannot conclude this part of my subject without earnestly cautioning the 

 student against suffering a passion for collecting to choke the desire of investiga- 

 ting Nature. From this results the misfortune which Mr. Swainson justly 

 regrets, "that nearly all naturalists (?) are more bent npon increasing the contents 

 of their cabinets, than on studying the economy of those living objects which are 

 perpetually crossing their path."* If such a state of things continue, Natural 

 History may well decline in Britain. 



Were the student to .place his insects in the cabinet without any order or 

 classification, they would be of as little use to him as a dictionary in which words 

 were mixed in utter confusion, would be to the scholar. It is necessary, there- 

 fore, that he proceed on some fixed and regular plan. The station which his 

 specimens hold in the insect kingdom, and the names by which they are known 

 in the scientific world, must be determined. He may obtain this knowledge, 

 either by reference to plates, bavins: the names supplied by a friend, or by care- 

 fully examining published descriptions. The first two methods are by far the 

 easiest — and the worst. They cannot be too severely condemned. If they are 

 usee, that power of perception and just discrimination of differences, which is of 

 the first importance to every naturalist, will never be obtained. Plates- may be 

 necessary sometimes, and the assistance of friends at the onset may be beneficial, 

 but neither should be depended upon for the determination of species. Mr. 

 Swainson has some excellent remarks on the acquisition and improvement of 

 the habit of perception and discrimination. " Accuracy of observation," says he, 

 Vis one of the first qualifications which the student should acquire. A quick and 

 discerning eye, accustomed by practice to distinguish differences which an ordinary 

 observer would overlook, is absolutely essential. The most perfect acquaintance 

 with all the systems that were ever invented, and with all the theories that have 

 ever been promulgated, will never compensate for the want of this primary 



requisite This tact for observation, like every other habit, is to 



be acquired by practice ; and the more it is exercised the more acute it becomes. 



* Treatise on the Geogr. and Classif. of Animals (Lardn. Cab. Cyc.% p. 309, 



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