THE SEASONS. 

 (By the Editor.) 



It is well for Entomologists it is not always summer. Sum- 

 mer is to the eager collector a period of such intense activity, 

 — moths to be found here, beetles there, caterpillars in other 

 directions, then insects coming out in the breeding-cages, 

 insects spread out on the setting-boards, live insects too, — 

 those horrid mites running about on the setting-boards rub- 

 bing off a leg here, an antenna there, or, if the insect be very 

 precious, carefully removing the wings, — (the clever rascals) 

 — that it is well the duration of summer is limited ; few would 

 like to have to work for even six months at the full summer 

 high-pressure rate. 



A member of parliament in July can have some concep- 

 tion of the labours devolving on an Entomologist during the 

 summer months; but, unfortunately, the M. P.'s labours 

 are of a less exhilarating nature : whilst he is drearily dozing 

 over an endless and unmeaning debate, the Entomologist is 

 more pleasantly employed in culling his moths from his 

 sugared trees ; he is in the open and fresh air of the woods 

 and heaths, unexposed to the ventilating draughts which a 

 Reid inflicts upon the Commons — his acquaintance with reeds 

 is limited to those growing in marshes ; though it strikes 

 one as not improbable that in days long gone by, Wainscots 

 and other marsh insects must have occurred freely between 



1857. m b 



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