4 COLLOQUIA ENTOMOLOGICA. 



opponents ; " for we all know that we have been severe, very 

 severe; let us, therefore, recollect this, and not resent or 

 notice those little ebullitions of ill-feeling towards us, which 

 our own criticisms have called forth. I find that individuals 

 expected that we should notice nothing but attacks upon 

 ourselves, that no crime against the public was to come under 

 our notice ; our plan in this respect is now better known : we 

 have shown our impartiality, and not only returned measure 

 for measure, but have given handsome interest into the 

 bargain — the warning will be salutary. The operations going 

 on against us, both privately and publicly, are evident ; but 

 let us appear not to see them. No ; let us do even more than 

 that ; let us select some two or three of the most active of our 

 enemies, and say every good of them that we can, consistently 

 with truth ; that will be a noble revenge. Gentlemen, " Suc- 

 cess to the Fire-fly, and good-will to her opponents." 



Omnes. Excellent. " Success," &c. 



Amb. I think that we have found that it would be wiser to 

 refrain in future from expressing any opinion on the affairs of 

 others, when unconnected with science; some of my ento- 

 mological friends have thought we had better not have inter- 

 fered in a recent case, not on account of our observations 

 being undeserved, but because the matter was below our 

 jurisdiction. 



Erro. And then we should have been loudly and fairly 

 charged with partiality. 



Incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdim. 



Ven. We could have done no other than we have done, 

 without laying ourselves open to that charge which would be 

 the most injurious of all : depend upon it, we are right as far 

 as we have gone. Now, if you please, conciliate. 



Amb. Don't you think we shall find that very difficult? 

 we have certainly done nothing yet to allay the feeling against 

 which we have declared war; but really, I think, we have 

 made matters worse. We seem to have raised a storm we 

 cannot control ; the waves of opposition threaten the Fire-fly 

 on all sides. 



Erko. Down she must go — 



Ast illam ter fluctus ibidem, 

 Torquet agens circum, et rapidus voiat sequore vortex. 



