( lxix ) 



Good collections of insects are a necessity for biological 

 research. Even for the completion of those departments of 

 biology that deal only with the structure and nature of the 

 individual, they are of great importance ; and for the wider 

 departments of Natural History, such as variation, distribution, 

 ancestry or origin, they are even more indispensable. 



The question of the educational value of collections, both 

 public and private, is so extensive that I must not attempt 

 its discussion, particularly as there are special difficulties 

 with regard to insects as to the mode and extent of their 

 exhibition. But I may be permitted to remind you that they 

 are one of those instruments of civilisation by whicb the 

 thoughts of men are widened, and what an advantage it 

 would be to all if this could be done more effectually ; there 

 is probably nothing that would do more to relieve the 

 thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. 



In this enormous city — the largest agglomeration of people 

 in the world — where I am addressing you, it is of vital im- 

 portance that every means of improving the mental, as well 

 as the physical, condition of the people shall be thoroughly 

 developed. Formerly the Spitalfields weavers used to amuse 

 themselves by collecting insects : the growth of London, 

 and more especially the extraordinary increase of value of 

 property in its vicinity, is fast rendering any such occupation 

 impracticable to this class of men ; and boxes of insects, the 

 private property of working men, are now, T suppose, nearly 

 things of the past. But certainly something should be done 

 by the resources of civilisation to replace this lost source of 

 enjoyment. In a very beautiful passage in ' Frondes agrestes ' 

 Buskin calls attention to the fact that even the magnificent 

 surroundings of the mountain people of Switzerland are 

 insufficient to develop or foster all the virtues of the human 

 race. What then can we expect to be the character of the 

 millions of inhabitants of the back streets of London. 



There are many who are inclined to neglect Science, 

 because they say it will not make men good. That may be 

 so ; nevertheless, it is undeniable that if scientific knowledge 

 could be extended, even in a limited manner, to the mass of 

 mankind, it would greatly increase their prudence, their 



