COLLECTIONS OF INSECTS, ETC. 171 



examine the insect with a pocket-magnifier, and if they can see a 

 certain mark, spot, or peculiarity of form or colour, it is sufficient 

 for them because it enables them to name it. They then place it 

 in the collection, and there it remains. We are all liable to fall 

 into this way of making collections, as there is a natural feeUng of 

 pleasure in filling up gaps and improving the general look of our 

 cabinets. 



Undoubtedly, the first and most important thing is to find out 

 the name of any insect we may have, and it is of little use to 

 study its habits and structure, unless it is ascertained beyond a 

 doubt what the insect has been called by a particular author, or if 

 it should be proved to be a new species, to describe it accurately, 

 give it a name, and pubhsh it with the description. Here is the 

 great use of all the systems of classification, for without a system 

 of nomenclature it would be impossible to name the thousands of 

 species we meet with in such a way that would lead to anything 

 but confusion. 



Some popular books — no doubt, with the object of simpli- 

 fying the study of insects and rendering it more attractive — write 

 rather disparagingly of making collections of the numerous 

 species, and, as they say, arranging them in rows in a cabinet. 

 They argue that it is better to study their habits and life-history 

 without troubling about their long and difficult Latin names ; but 

 this is a fallacy, for no observations can be of any use unless it is 

 known beyond a doubt to what insect they refer. For this purpose 

 any popular or local name, even supposing the insect has one, is 

 often worse than useless and sadly misleading. Most of the facts 

 relating to insects recorded by ancient writers are, for this reason, 

 of very little value, because it is a matter of considerable doubt to 

 what insects they bore reference. Some naturalists even, from not 

 attending to this important point, have rendered their observations, 

 which would otherwise have been of great scientific value, of com- 

 paratively little real use. 



A practical instance of this came under my notice recently. 

 A gentleman living near where I reside asked me if I had a speci- 

 men of the " Hop-Dog " in my collection, because if I had not he 

 could get for me as many as I might wish off the fruit-trees in his 

 garden. This aroused my interest, as the larva of Dasychira 



