JOURNAL OF VARIATION. 



No. 12. Vol. V. December lorn, 1894. 



EJ^l'OJVEOLOQy Jit ]^m]i]i£f^, Eg^E^, l]i IS94.* 



By Rev. C. R. N. BURROWS. 



I feel that, before commencing to address you, 1 should offer some 

 apology for appearing before you this evening, and disclaim at the very 

 beginning any pretence of being able to instruct you in matters entomo- 

 logical. I must assure you, then, that I feel in the jjosition of one 

 pushed into publicity, and I sliould have much preferred to remain the 

 " mute, inglorious Milton " I have ever been, and to have taken the seat 

 of a listener, while someone better qualified than myself interested 

 and instructed us ujion the subject of the evening. 



While disclaiming any right to lecture you in a learned or purely 

 scientific strain, I may yet lay claim to a certain amount of experience 

 in collecting, gained througli a long course of years. 



Tliougli not born witli a net in my hand, my earliest memories are 

 entwined with entomology, for amongst tlie first tilings whicli I can 

 call to mind, is a visit with two s})inster ladies to Ilounslow Heath in 

 search of Annrta jni/ytilli, when myself too young to join in that healtliy 

 but somewhat exhausting exercise. 



You will not then, 1 hope, take me for a novice, but rather for wliat 

 I really am, an entomological dabbler — ^perhaps I should say an un- 

 scientific collector — of long standing, whose spare time for a great number 

 of 3'ears has been devoted, whenever possible, to discovering and re- 

 cording the Lepidoptera which can be taken in the various localities 

 where my life has been spent. 



So far, I have been introducing myself and not the subject before 

 us, but it is really this lifelong passion for collecting, whicli has been 

 the cause of my appearance before you to-night. 



All English entomologists (perhaps I ought to say lepidopterists) 

 seem to have been complaining of this year, 1 894, as having been a very 

 bad one for our pursuit. My systematic hunt has resulted in ])uttino- 

 into my hands a number of insects which, thougli not, perhaps, what 

 can be called rarities, seem to me to have a good deal of interest ; and 

 as this belief seems to be shared by my entomological advisers, I have 

 allowed myself to be prevailed upon to lay before you an account of my 

 captures. 



* A paper read before the City of London Entomolosrical Sorietv, on Oor ifitli 

 1894. ' ■ " 



