308 THE entomologist's record. 



By beating willows I captured SHrtcft orbicularis (2), and saw several 

 more, but they were most provokingly nimble on their legs, apparently 

 more so than their commoner relation, .S. hemisj)Jiaericns ,- (TaleruceUa 

 lini'ola (1) was also beaten from willow. 



Home large pieces of fungus on old willow trees raised my hopes 

 rather high ; however, the beetle tenants were by no means plentiful, 

 for beyond a few Epuraca li)iibata and Dame Jniincralis, together with 

 a single Cis hidrntatus and (Tijrophacna nana (4), there was nothing 

 notable in them. As there seemed to be some larvcTe in them, I carted 

 a few pieces home, and bred plenty more l>acnc huincralis and 

 A[i/ci't()))ha(im pimis [S). Just before leaving the fen I turned over 

 some dead reeds, by the river bank, and disturbed one or two 

 AnyJuDncnun inuilus, Jjcnibidinin fcnioratuni and I'acdcrus riparius. 



The walk back to Wroxham gives one ample time to contemplate 

 the possibilities of a man who could spend two years (or 20 for the 

 matter of that) instead of two days collecting insects, and studying the 

 life of the marshes at Horning. 



Entomology, Evolution, and Romance: a plea for a new departure. 



By FEEDK. W. FEOST. 



In a paper like this the main points can only be suggested by a 

 series of digressions. 



A dictionary states that entomology treats of insects. This would 

 be more correct to-day if put in the past tense. Aristotle pointed out 

 that the bodies of insects were cut up — hence the name of the science. 

 Would the Greeks have changed the name of insects in their lan- 

 guage had they foreseen its prophetic significance ? 



Mr. Herbert Spencer laid down the rule, " That no analytical 

 truths, no combination of analytical truths, can ever make up that 

 synthesis of thought which alone nnist be the interpretation of the 

 synthesis of things." He fortunately never carried this principle very 

 far towards its logical conclusion, or the world would have missed 

 most of his work. Is it not true, in spite of what has often been 

 said to the contrary, that means are only justified by the end 

 projoosed ? 



What are the ends proposed by entomologists to-day ? Are they 

 not many in number, and chaotic in direction, considered collectively ? 

 Some must be mutually destructive, judging by the worjv done in 

 proportion to the results attained. 



It might be said that the conspiracy against common ignorance, 

 conducted by the secret societies of entomologists speaking a jargon 

 of their own, is quite harmless, owing to lack of organisation among 

 its members. 



If the man in the street so much as knew our society met here 

 to-night, he might ask a well-informed companion, "What do those 

 fellows do?" " Oh, they sit round a table and talk about bugs," 

 the well-informed one could reply. If the question were, " Who 

 was Professor Huxley or Tyndall '? " the answer would be " A great 

 scientific man." So much can be learned in their works. Why this 

 difierence ? 



Should an entomological Nordau be born to us in the course of 

 time, he would be a heaven-sent boon. Are there not materials 



