144 



dull at the classics and dull at the mathematics, have not found an aim, 

 and perhaps a name, by the direction of their minds to the pursuits to which 

 such volumes lead up ; and that a great help to such minds is furnished by the 

 work of field clubs, both a field and in papers. Of instructive monographs 

 (if I may so speak), I have not for a long time m^t with a more interesting 

 sample than Mr. J. Trahern Moggridge's "Harvesting Ants and Trap-door 

 Spiders : with notes and observations on their habits and dwellings," pub- 

 hshed last year by T. Eeeve and Co., London ; a book containing the minutest 

 records of insect ingenuity and insect architecture, and carrying the reader 

 on from page to page with much of the zest and fascination of a romance, 

 though it is but the record of strange truths. The book came into my hands 

 from another source, but in the course of it I found that the author's aide- 

 de-camp in his most interesting researches was Mr. Robert Lightbody, the 

 younger, an example of the value and efficiency of an intelligent direction, 



and of an 



Indoles 

 N utrita fauster sub penetralibug. 



And this leads me to think again of Dr. Chapman's short entomological paper, 

 the only one of that branch during the year, and to plead with our ento- 

 mologists for more results of their addiction. In the book to which I have 

 referred they should find an incitement to kindred achievements ; and I am 

 persuaded that there are few studies which offer so fine a field of achieve- 

 ment to patient observation and a plain unvarnished detail— for Mr. 

 Moggridge depends for his charm far more on this than on any trick of 

 style or composition. Perhaps for the furtherance of entomological study 

 —I speak as a mere novice— there needs a large amount of microscopic work, 

 an habituation with the details and niceties of microscopy. If so, here is a 

 section of om- field in which we may post up a hand-bill, "Wanted, 

 labourers !" And I don't think we shall want long. The names of Mr. 

 Cooper Key, Mr. With, and Mr. Smith, of Thruxton, would go far to the 

 making of an able microscopical sub-committee, and I have reason to believe 

 that they will not reject our appeal, if we ask them to constitute one, with 

 pmver to add to their numbers. I have but one more topic on which to 

 touch. At our Fungus Feast a suggestion was offered as to an interchange 

 of grafts of choice apples and pears through the medium of the Woolhope 

 Club, and an effort to bestow a portion of the interest which our society 

 devotes to forest trees, upon the fruit-bearers for which Herefordshire in 

 past time has been so deservedly famous. You will recollect that Mr. 

 Berkeley, as Chairman of the Fruit Committee at South Kensiugton, gave 

 us warm encouragement as well as the promise of countenance and assis- 

 tance. There are, and must be, not a few of our members who are practised 

 apple and pear growers and fanciers, and— as we have in these days almost 

 forgotten "protection," and set up "free trade" in its place— it is probable 

 that such, if invited, would be willing both to communicate their experiences 

 as to successful grafting and budding, and to co-operate in any interchange 



