ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETIES AND SCIENTIFIC RECORDS. 227 



Belonging to the genus abhorrent to the Record's editorial mind 

 (Genus, Collector; Species, Mere). lam not so deeply moved in the 

 matter as the Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, who evidently spends weary 

 hours burrowing amongst records, ancient and modern, in the faint 

 hope of discovering something of value, even as the more humble rag- 

 picker burrows in the city dustbins in the dewy morn ! Even I, 

 however, recognise that, if such records are to be of any use whatever, 

 they must be detailed and complete, and I have therefore endeavoured 

 to obtain such records, for the inclusion in the reports of that Society 

 to which, for my sins, I am reporting secretary. I trust that the 

 Ke\ . C. R. N. Burrows' efforts will be attended with more success than 

 mine have been. 



Having found it impossible to note from labels [when attached) the 

 dates and locality of an exhibit before me, and at the same time record 

 remarks being made during the announcement of subsequent exhibits, 

 I announced, with the approval of the Societ3 T 's council, that no 

 exhibit would be reported unless the exhibitor furnished the secretary 

 with an adequate report of the points of interest in connection with the 

 same: the result is that on an average, about one- third of the exhibitors 

 furnish me with such notes, and .those, with a very few honourable 

 exceptions, only do so under pressure. 



Now any reasonable being must surely admit that I am 'twixt devil 

 and deep sea ! If I record only those exhibits of which adequate details 

 are given to me, it must appear that the Society does nothing worth 

 recording at its meetings ; on the other hand, if I endeavour to do 

 justice to the transcendent interest of those meetings by noting what I 

 can of exhibits not so reported to me, I incur the wrath and contempt 

 of the Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, editors, and others who hunger and thirst 

 after scientific accuracy and wealth of detail. 



1 suggest that there are two methods more likely to lead towards the 

 distant goal of perfect reports than abusing secretaries or even (save 

 the mark) editors ! The one is to persuade the individual entomologist 

 of the necessity of properly recording his capture, exhibit, or what not. 

 This I have failed to accomplish in a modest way, partly owing to the 

 indifference and indolence of the aforesaid individual, and partly, be it 

 admitted, because he often lacks the knowledge necessary for the full 

 appreciation and description of the facts to which he wishes to draw 

 attention. The other and better way is for those gentlemen who 

 thrive on records, and* possess the scientific knowledge necessary to 

 their proper compilation, to add shorthand to their accomplishments, 

 and then present themselves as candidates for secretarial posts in our 

 entomological societies! I, for one, in the cause of science and my 

 own peace of mind, shall be only too happy to resign the doubtful 

 privileges of secretaryship in favour of sued) an individual when he 

 presents himself. So far as my experience goes, however, those best 

 qualified to act as secretaries are usually the leasl willing or able to 

 spare the necessary time — to which, no doubt, it may he replied that 

 my case is an illustration of the old saw that •• fools push in where 



angels tear to tread." 



