OX THE OBJECTS OF A COLLECTION OF IXSECTS. 117 



field naturalist, equally requires them to refer to, that he 

 mav know the name of the animal he studies, and so be able 

 to ""ive to others the benefit of his observations. Some nearly 



o * 



allied species so closely resemble one another, that without 

 specimens it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, 

 to distinguish them ; others again, whether from an inherent 

 tendency to "sport," or from the influence of external cir- 

 cumstances, vary so much in different examples that, without 

 comparing a series of specimens, the more extreme forms 

 of one and the same species would often be described as dif- 

 ferent species, or even placed in different genera, as has been 

 too often the case. To describe species so that they may be 

 recognised by other observers, is an art much more difficult 

 than would a priori be expected ; for it must be remembered 

 that to distinguish them from the old species is not sufficient — 

 they ought to be so described that they may be known from 

 those also that will afterwards be discovered ; and it is much 

 to be wished that every describer of a new species would 

 deposit one or more specimens in the British Museum and 

 the cabinet of the Entomological Society. If this had been 

 always done many mistakes and much confusion would have 

 been avoided. 



Collecting, however, even if we proceed no further, has of 

 itself some good effects upon the mind, which must not be 

 undervalued. The close and accurate observation of Nature 

 most forcibly induces that frame of mind so beautifully de- 

 scribed by Shakspeare, in which we are disposed to find — 



" Books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in everything." 



To those who take no interest in science it would be diffi- 

 cult to explain the feeling with which a Geologist regards a 

 rock, a Botanist a flower, or an Entomologist an insect: it is 

 something quite peculiar, and can only be understood and 



