LETTER TO THE EDITOR. 211 



and then come home and arrange them. This advice was taken. The Entom- 

 ologist progressed in his studies, encouraged probably by the Doctor, and he 

 eventually collected a very good cabinet, which, if we have been rightly 

 infoniaed, was, upon his departure from Birmingham, sold for the sum of 

 ^1500. Mr. Weaver has continued to pursue the study ever since, and has 

 had the pleasure of discovering many new, or remarkable insects. I merely 

 cite the foregoing biography to show how much may be accomplished by 

 study and perseverance, even in the humblest ranks of life. 



The little band at Nottingham should not feel discouraged by the fact 

 that, owing to their being inhabitants of a town, they are obliged to pursue 

 the object of their study somewhat to disadvantage. The love of Nature is 

 to be found largely developed in the minds of many hard working operatives, 

 even in the heart of the largest cities, and it is almost always combined with 

 bright intelligence and singleness of purpose for its pursuit. In the humblest 

 ranks will be found indefatigable collectors of species in every branch of 

 Natural History — men who before and after the day of hard toil in the mill 

 or workshop, rob themselves of rest and sleep, march off to the distant moss, 

 wood, or field, and satisfy their soul-felt cravings after the beauties of natvire. 

 " I know," writes my friend Mr. Plant, of Salford, " many such ardent col- 

 lectors, and from my long intercourse with them I have had the opportunity 

 of learning that their special knowledge of the habits and characters of birds, 

 insects, and flowers, is equal, if not more practical and sure, to that pos- 

 sessed by our best writers One man, a rope-maker, named Edward Jaques, 

 an honest, kind, and gentle-spirited man, has for seventeen years, almost 

 daily, night and morn, walked to a distance of five miles from Manchester, 

 to look out for and study the pretty warblers which exist in that neighbour- 

 hood ; and of them I can say his knowledge is perfect." How much is there 

 in the foregoing narrative to encourage the humble student of nature. The 

 labour attendant upon the acquisition of zoological knowledge may be great, 

 but it is one of love, and the harvest of pleasure which it brings is as rich 

 as certain. The Rev. J. Bird, who wrote upon the botany of Berkshire, once 

 walked sixteen miles in search of new plants, and thought himself well repaid 

 by gathering the rare Pasque flower; and so anxious were the Rev. — King, 

 and the late remarkable yeoman " Job Lauseley," as he was familiarly called, 

 — both Berkshire men — to see some Fritillary butterflies in a state of nature, 

 that they walked from Blewbery to the meadows near Burghfield Bridge, a 

 distance of sixteen miles, for the purpose. 



A few words upon another part of Mr, Morley's letter. He says ; " I hope 

 the time is coming when we shall have more English and less Latin " in our 

 works on Natural History. So do I, and expressed the same opinion some 

 months ago, when I had occasion to treat of Mr. Stainton's Entomological 

 Annual. Perhaps I may be allowed to repeat my remarks in this place. 

 "Let the Editor keep rigidly to his promise of uniting the 'duke' with the 



