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the amusement only, from the ignorant, which is called forth by the entomologist in pro- 

 secuting his investigations] While not for one moment wishing to belittle their work I 

 maintain stoutly that not one of these or all combined can compare with entomology in 

 its possibilities when tested by the rule of Cici bono ? The silent respect accorded these 

 sciences is no doubt largely due to supposed, not to call them fictitious, virtues. 



The botanist has from ancient times been inseparably associated with medicine and 

 the discovery of a panacea for all the ills to which luortal man is heir. Even in the 

 wilderness, with a handful of herbs he is exempt from molestation by either Indian or 

 white man run wild. The chemist again deals with thini^'s unintelligible to the masses, 

 illustrated with loud noises and nasty smells, and there has come down with iiim from the 

 middle ages a sort of twin-brolhi rhood with the alchemist and the practisers of other dark 

 arts — the pnssil)ility of his discovering in his laborarory an easy means of creating, with- 

 out hard work, gold, that which is by laost men most coveted, and for which many will 

 commit crime or be induced to acts mean and contemptible. Too true even to-day are Virgil's 

 words : " Quid non mortalia pectora cages, Auri sacra fames f What will you not com- 

 pel mortal breasts to do, cursed lust tor gold ? The geologist, with his pick, or his humV>le 

 but sordid, vulture-like follower, the " prospector," means to the uneducated eye a public 

 benefactor, who may find that purest but most degrading metal, the search for which is the 

 mainspring and motor of so many lives. Who that has travelled in the far West has not 

 seen the magic effect in removing difficulties of the words " I am working for the Geo- 

 logical Survey !" And yet — I say not as a wail— there is no such respect for the " bug 

 sharp " or " grasshopper tenderfoot," who has saved them there, in that very country, the 

 very means of subsistence, and he is only treated to shakes of the head and sinister looks, 

 as though he were some dangerous character, when in answer to their questions " What 

 are they for?" " What do you do with them T he can not assure his interrogators that 

 he either eats or, that which last of all he would do, sells his specimens. 



But I have said that the change for the better in this respect has even now set in. 

 Already the most highly civilized nations of the world, nobly headed by the Government 

 of the most practical and energetic people on the face of the gh'be, the inhabitants of the 

 United States of America, have seen the advantage of appointing specialists who can 

 devise means for the prevention of the enormous losses of revenue due to the attacks of 

 injurious insects. Germany, England and her colonies, notabl_y Oauada and particularly 

 the province of Ontario, France, Italy, and other nation.';, all have followed the lead, and 

 our favorite science has now changed from a study and amusement of the few to one of 

 the most important branches of practical agriculture, the elements of which must be known 

 by all engaged in tilling the soil or they will surely suffer. Already it finds a place upon 

 the curricula of many of our schools and colleges and before long will force itself upon the 

 notice of others. There has been a rapid development in this line, not only in this coun- 

 try but everywhere, during the last two or three years, and many new men have come to 

 the front. My presumption does not carry me so far as to criticise these or other work- 

 ers ; but perhaps I may be permitted to refer to some of the dangers which beset a newly 

 appointed entomologi.st, and particularly a young one. In such a task one must necpss- 

 arily (for safety's sake) refer to what has occurred to himself in his own experience. 

 The first consideration must of course always be to succeed in the work which you 

 have undertaken, and I can not help thinking that some eir considerably when they 

 think that they will be expected to know everything and must answer every question 

 off hand. On this point I am speaking particularly of our relations with farmers, who 

 are as a rule very practical men, made so by the exigencies of their lives, but who are 

 frequently those who have not had the advantages of a liberal education, and conse- 

 quently have not the consideration and moderation wliich that alone gives. Moreover, 

 as there is no policy so poor, because it is invariably seen through, as that which 

 prompts an entomologist, when seeking information from one whom he knows is better 

 posted than himself, to try and hide his lack of knowledge by making excuses why 

 he does not recognise that exact specimen, or by asking indefinite questions in the 

 hope of getting what he requires, without in so many word5 acknowledging his ignorance, 

 so in the same way does he expose hitnself to the contempt and want of confidence 



