192 DECEMBER. 



of the insect world, who, after having spent the greater 

 part of their lives in collecting, are still human mile- 

 stones on the Entomological road, their only use being 

 to show in their own persons what Entomology was in 

 their day. But " Excelsior" — a new school of Ento- 

 mology has sprung up ; men have begun to see that to 

 practice conservatism in science is, in fact, to stand 

 still, to become a human milestone for the liberals in 

 science to pass by. Science is social not solitary. The 

 man who considers himself able to prosecute success- 

 fully the science of Entomology by his own unaided 

 industry, however indefatigable and persevering he may 

 be, will find he has become the victim of a miserable 

 delusion. 



As entomological science is a social science, and 

 cannot successfully be prosecuted except under these 

 conditions of liberality, friendship and good-will, each 

 being willing, as far as in him lies, without fee or re- 

 ward exacted, to assist his " brother of the net and 

 pin," how is it that there is so much ill-feeling and 

 want of charity among its votaries ? The reason is 

 obvious — ignorance is at the bottom of it. I do not 

 mean to say unlearned or brutal ignorance, but mental 

 ignorance; that kind of ignorance that breeds sus- 

 picion, that makes you consider every man a rogue 

 until you find him honest — clicqueism — the ignorance 

 that has instituted guilds and other institutions sacred 

 to the middle ages, but which will not stand the full 

 blaze of noon-day — the want of a liberal spirit, of a con- 

 viction, and a practical one too, that to reap knowledge 

 you must sow knowledge— " cast thy bread upon the 

 waters and thou shalt find it after many days," — as are 

 thy actions so shall thy reward be, sooner or later. 



