FEBRUARY. 21 



Take him a box of insects, and ask him to name them 

 for you, if there are any rare or uncommon insects 

 among them, the chances are that they will receive 

 the names of common ones; this being backed by 

 a proposition to exchange with you for them; not 

 that he " particularly cares about them, but he never 

 takes anything but good insects, as it is as much 

 trouble to set a common insect as a good one," and 

 he " would much rather exchange for them than take 

 them." Of such sophistry beware. 



But if you meet a collector in your rambles that 

 does not shun your company, answers your scientific 

 questions, freely and without restraint, corrects you if 

 wrong in any practical matter,— does not giggle at you 

 if you happen to observe that Argyrolepia JEneana is 

 very rare, or that you have failed to rear the larvae of 

 Ephippiphora Fceneana (after having had consider- 

 able trouble to discover their habitat) — pompously 

 adding, " Ah, you may take hundreds of the larvae, and 

 won't breed one ; it isn't every body that knows how 

 to manage 'em ;" but informs you that Argyrolepia 

 JEneana is no longer rare, and explains to you (with- 

 out egotism) the causes of your failure with the E. 

 Foeneana larvae; this is your entomological friend. 

 Give him a trial ; his services will be more valuable — 

 his knowledge more useful to you — than the acquaint- 

 ance or company of fifty useless companions. 



And now having gained an entomological friend, 

 and, we will suppose, made some progress in Ento- 

 mology, do not become vain of your acquirements, 

 make no sweeping assertions, but let a humble and 



