THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. xlvii 



of pretty looking forms^ and as an amusement fit only for 

 children. 



It is worth rememberings that the advantages with which 

 we believe this pursuit to be attended^ are to be found in the 

 cultivation of habits of exact and careful observation. Such 

 habits are essential even in the mere collector. The eye must 

 learn to discern, and the memory to retain the diflFerences 

 which exist between different species. At first, indeed, all 

 insects appear alike. Distinctions, except in respect of size 

 and colour, are hardly observed. Soon, however, by practice, 

 and at last almost by intuition, in reality, as the mind is better 

 instructed, these distinctions become exceedingly plain, and the 

 collector will readily and correctly separate the species, even 

 although he may be unacquainted with a single name. 



A great advance upon this has evidently been made when 

 the collector has made himself acquainted with the anatomy of 

 his insects, and is able, by comparing any one with the descrip- 

 tions given by scientific authors, to discern by what name it is 

 known, and what is its proper position with reference to the rest. 

 He has had much to learn in order to acquire this power. The 

 sphere of his observation is now largely extended. The necessity 

 of accuracy of observation is briefly brought before him, and he 

 finds it essential to learn the exact meaning of words, a matter 

 of greater importance and difficulty than some people are apt to 

 imagine. 



And, perhaps, to describe correctly, requires as great an 

 advance upon the progress made by the classifier, as he in his 

 turn has made upon that of the collector. The describer has to 

 examine with care, to compare with accuracy, to select for 

 description that which is essential, even if of less prominence, 

 to use terms of known meaning, and to use them in that sense 

 only which his fellow students have agreed that they shall bear. 

 The requisite knowledge of the labours of others — the 

 comparison of unknown with known forms — the searching out 

 the affinities of insects new to science — the correct description — 

 all this (and more might be added) implies no slight advance in 



