The Scottish Naturalist. 253 



insects, and last, but not least, the unravelling of the mysteries 

 of synonymy are tasks which belong rather to the matured 

 student than to the beginner. To the field naturalist whose ento 

 mological library is perhaps small, and whose opportunities of 

 visiting well-arranged museums or more complete libraries are 

 few, these are labours which are impossible, and he must be 

 contented to owe his. knowledge of this department to fellow- 

 students whose opportunities or whose abilities are greater. 



The question of nomenclature is one which has of late en- 

 gaged considerable attention. Had entomology had its rise in 

 days of penny post and cheap printing we should have been 

 spared the laborious task of discovering what the proper name 

 of an insect is, and the somewhat unseemly wranglings that 

 take place over the subject. There can be no doubt that we 

 owe to our successors to sift this question once for all, and 

 hereby save them a repetition of the labours we have found so 

 tedious, and it is equally certain that this can only be done by 

 agreeing to admit the claims of strict priority of nomenclature; 

 the absurdity of a name, however much to be deplored, in no 

 way influencing the decision. 



There is yet another sphere of usefulness in which the 

 thoughtful student of entomology will feel himself called on to 

 labour, and this is the elucidation of facts in the ceconomy of 

 those insects that are beneficial or injurious to man, with a 

 view of aiding the farmer, the nurseryman, and the arboricul- 

 turist in ridding themselves of the noxious, and encouraging the 

 increase of the useful. In this branch of enquiry, we are undoubt- 

 edly much behind our neighbours. I am not disposed to advo- 

 cate the cause of that pseudo-utilitarian policy which would lead 

 us to despise all research that does not bear on the face of it 

 the probability of a return in actual pounds sterling, but think 

 that scientific investigation has higher aims and nobler ends 

 than putting pence into pockets. But the modern bug-bear 

 utilitarianism surely means neither more nor less than this, that 

 we should employ our talents to the best of our ability for our 

 truest interests; and so far from entomology derogating from 

 its dignity as a pure science, it is rather ennobling itself by 

 ministering to man's endeavours to add to his power over, and 

 to subdue to himself, the inexorable laws by which he is encom- 

 passed. Having indicated in general terms a course of pro- 



