SIDELIGHTS ON THE LRPIDOPTEROLOGICAL WORK OF THE CENTURY. 31 



shore," is, speaking generally, far more interesting than its chitinous 

 covering, as a man, also speaking generally, is more interesting than 

 his clothes ; and it is to careful observation of the living animal, 

 prompted and sustained by rational conjecture, and checked by 

 exhaustive experiment, that I venture to think we have mainly to look 

 for progress in all branches of entomology, not excepting that which is 

 the special province of the systematist, whose work, invaluable as it is, 

 has to be comprehensive if it is to approach completeness or finality. 



Sidelights on tlie Lepidopterological Work of the Nineteenth 



Century. 



By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



The Editor commandeers me to say something about the present 

 position of entomology, in relation to the progress made during the 

 nineteenth century, in almost any or every direction except what 

 belongs to the strictly systematic side. I am certainly quite incom- 

 petent to do so, the subject is immense, long study would be involved, 

 if merely in verifying references, and a most meagre exposition would 

 require several volumes. I became less restive under the demand on 

 finding that only a page or two were wanted, since if I could avoid 

 palpable blunders, the limitations of space would explain all other 

 errors, whether of total omission''', or of broad statements that are not 

 really true without various qualifications. Nevertheless it is certain 

 that I am very like that man who exhibited a brick or two, by way of 

 proving what a noble city he came from. Why the systematic aspect 

 is denied me, I do not quite understand, not that I want to enlarge my 

 field of view, but simply because now we are all systematists. Though 

 we must all specialise, nothing is clearer at present, whatever it may 

 have been at the beginning of the century, than that any entomological 

 work of any scientific value, whether it be done in the field, in the 

 study, or in the laboratory, derives much of its interest and the greater 

 part of its value, from the bearing it has on systematic conclusions, 

 that no work in fact is without such bearing. Even such researches 

 as those of P. Lyonet in the last century or of Miall, Hammond, or 

 Lowne, more recently, in the anatomy of a single species have not only 

 great intrinsic interest, but are most valuable as standpoints, from 

 Avhich systematic conclusions can be drawn, whenever any similar 

 anatomical data are available about other species. 



There can be no question that the note of the century in ento- 

 mology, as in all other branches of natural history, is to be found in 

 the different position taken up, as a consequence of the acceptance of 

 Darwin's teaching. At the end of the century, we may say, I think, 

 that that acceptance is complete ; I know there are still many 

 obscurantists and irreconcilables, but their number amongst those 

 with any scientific knowledge or education is negligeable. There are 

 also others, no doubt, who appear to think that some small variety, 

 offshoot, or side issue of Darwin's great generalisation, is a new and 

 distinct species, which they have had the good fortune to invent or 

 discover. If such an idea will give them the necessary stimulus to do 

 good work, let us pardon them their little vanity, without fear of their 

 disturbing the solid foundations on which Darwin builds. 



* An Irishman might justly remark that the whole paper consisted of omissions. 



