( cxviii ) 



thing to come in contact, then as the tarsus was lowered the 

 sharp spines all directed forwards would touch and pull in an 

 opposite dix^ectiou to the tip of the claAvs and thus clinch it. 

 But this is just where careful observation is needed, and it is 

 this I ask for. 



I think it a happy thing that some of the Fellows of this 

 Society have been foremost of late in looking into the habits 

 of insects. But there are so many ways of observing, so many 

 kinds of insects to notice, whilst it is also necessary that the 

 observations should be made with some definite object in view. 



I am a firm believer in making a particular subject your 

 study. The excellent work done by Professor Poulton and 

 Ur. Dixey in connection with mimicry ; the valuable contri- 

 bution to science resulting from Mr. Merrifield's experiments 

 on the effect of temperatux^e on coloration ; the interesting 

 discoveries made by Mr. Donisthoi'pe in his study of insects 

 inhabiting ants' nests, all go to show the value of taking up 

 some special branch of study. 



In the past it has been necessary to devote much time to 

 the classification and naming of our insects, for without names 

 we cannot record facts about them. An immense amount of 

 work remains to be done in describing new species ; I think, 

 however, the time has come when more attention should be 

 paid to field work, especially abroad. I could mention several 

 monographs of families, and works dealing with the fauna of 

 various countries in Avhich there is scarcely a reference to the 

 habits of a single species. This is difiicult to avoid because 

 the entomologists who write the systematic works are not 

 themselves the collectors of the specimens. I feel sure, how- 

 ever, that one reason why so few observations on the habits 

 of the species are appended to the description is, that their 

 importance has not been appreciated. 



The subject which 1 have brought before you is full of 

 interest, and much careful field observation will be needed to 

 clear up the points which I have raised. Here, then, are 

 openings for many young enthusiasts, and if what I have said 

 should induce any of you, or our friends abi-oad, to make 

 some particular branch of this subject your special study I 

 shall not have delivered this Address in vain. 



