NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 99 



^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Collectors. — " Only a collector ! " With a slightly cynical smile or 

 a still more meaning look, this phrase frequently falls from the lips of 

 one entomologist to another, as they are picking to pieces the scientific 

 character of a mutual acquaintance. You may wonder how the indivi- 

 dual speaking differs in his manner of entomological work, from the 

 individual of whom he is speaking, but courtesy forbids asking for an 

 explanation. We have roughly four classes of entomologists : — 



(i). Those who collect the beautiful insects they admire, set them out 

 more or less carefully, and preserve them, make observations which tend 

 to self-improvement, but have insutKicient education or insufficient time 

 to draw deductions from their observations, or to record them for the 

 value of others. 



(2). Those who fulfil most of the preceding conditions, and in addi- 

 tion, draw more or less satisfactory or unsatisfactory deductions from 

 their observations, and record the latter in a more or less satisfactory or 

 unsatisfactory manner for the mutual benefit. 



(3). Those who know nothing about collecting, but who, using the 

 observations of others, make books that very few read, compose lists to 

 " muddle " the collector, and describe species from odd specimens 

 obtained in far away countries by paid collectors, the said species pro- 

 bably being — in nine cases out of ten — different sexes, or local vars. c f 

 the same species ; such people of course considering themselves the 

 cream of those who label themselves " scientists." 



True science correlates facts, and makes fair deductions from careful 

 observations. How those, who do not collect and do not make obser- 

 vations, can possibly draw correct deductions, I am at a loss to imagine ! 

 But there is a fourth group of men who are totally distinct from those 

 in Class 3, who collect, or have collected themselves, who write 

 books recording iheir own observations, advance our study generally, 

 and who are "scientists " in the true sense of the word. I need hardly 

 particularise, but IVIessrs. Stq,inton and the late Edward Newman were 

 both active collectors ; Mr. McLachlan, who has done so much for the 

 Neuroptera and Trichoptera, and Mr. Verrall for the Diptera, have 

 also been active " collectors." 



Why then should the term " collector " be considered such a dis- 

 paraging one ? Is not the man who makes observations for himself 

 improving himself, and thus benefiting the community? Is not the 

 man who collects insects, and makes observations, and gives both the 

 msects and observations to those who have more time and a better 

 opportunity for using them, a scientist in the truest sense ? Is not 

 every brother of the net who does this doing his share towards the one 

 great whole, on the principle of " Little drops of water," etc. ? 



But I would ask those who despise the collector one practical ques- 

 tion : What would they do without him? How long would it take one 

 man to write a book only like Newman's Butierjlies, without the aid of 

 the collector? Could it be done in a lifetime? I think not. The 

 real collector is a scientific force in our study, and a most valuable 

 unit too. 



For the mercenary collector who collects insects like a man collects 

 old "pots" in an auction room, or for the business-like man (?) who 



