98 THE entomologist's record. 



and over the level country beyond stretch meadows and fields of 

 corn. When the wind has Ijlown on shore for some days, quantities 

 of insects are washed upon the beach. The wind has beaten them 

 into the water, and they may have come from the Canadian shore, 

 which is faintly visible in the far distance. Later in the summer I 

 found in this way Calosoma tcilcoxi — water-logged, but still alive. 

 Quantities of potato beetles (for it was a " good " year for them) were 

 washed ashore, and many seemed to be dead and would probably go no 

 further on life's voyage. But, under a warm sun, many recovei'ed and, 

 spreading their rosy wings, went nosing their way to the next potato 

 patch, forgetting their shipwreck and their near escape. They had no 

 time to let their experience tell upon them, and seemed satisfied with 

 the fact that they were dry once more. For some distance from its 

 mouth, the sides of the outer and inner ridges form the banks of the 

 brook. Here, over the winding course, the trees and bushes obscured 

 tlie view so that, passing upwai-ds in my boat, new beauties were dis- 

 closed at every turn, and the voyage seemed made into an undiscovered 

 country. It was a natural harbour from the lake ; but, towards mid- 

 summer, a bar formed across the mouth, when it grew dunib, and answered 

 no more to the greater water beyond. Pools formed here and there, 

 and I could step the fords, needing the boat to reach the outer ridge 

 no longer. Nestled between the ridges, with fern-clad woods on 

 either hand, the brook seemed to me often stillness itself, so that I 

 would not disturb it with my oar. 



" No other noyse, nor people's troublous cries, 

 As still are wont \' annoy the walled towne, 

 Mitiht there be heard; but carelesse Quiet lyes, 

 Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimies." 



It was rather my intention to give a short description, to Avrite out, 

 as it were, a mere extended locality label, but I have plainly wandered. 

 If I were to pause and ask the solemn question : " Is it scientific? " I 

 should have to answer in the negative, and even the weak defence that 

 there exist writers, considering themselves scientific, who are neither 

 honest nor entertaining, will avail me nothing. Perha^is it would have 

 been as well to have begun with some general and beautifully objective 

 remarks on entomolog}'. As thus : men (and women too) catcli insects 

 in order to eat them, to sell them, or to study them — et qnaelibet alia 

 causa. This latter will cover the cases where an insect is caught and 

 destroyed from momentary fear or anger, or where one puts one's foot 

 upon it for the mere satisfaction of smashing or exploding it ; as also 

 where it is exterminated at the expense of Government to save the 

 crops. As a proof that everything degenerates at the hands of man, I 

 might further show how the study of entomology is used as a vehicle 

 for breaking such commandments in the Decalogue as are possible, 

 especially that one forbidding us to bear false witness against our neigh- 

 bour. I could then be at the pains of formulating a theory to account 

 for the avidity with which insects are studied. As thus: that the 

 human mind falls into two spheres of action, the intellect and the 

 emotions. That the intellect is stimulated to action by observing the 

 mintite diilerences between various species of butterflies, for instance. 

 That entomology may thus be reckoned among the intellectual pleasures, 

 since pleasure arises from the exercise of function. And, finally, that 

 the different races of mankind have diffei-ent specialities (as the French 



