INVESTIGATION OF INSECTS. 569 , 



mological studies by turning over figures usually end 

 them there, and never attain to that nameless tact in 

 making out insects that can only be the result of patient 

 study. Indeed figures, though often very useful, and 

 sometimes indispensable, can scarcely ever exhibit those 

 nice characters, particularly as to sculpture, that distin- 

 guish some insects. Our modern artists, indeed, are re- 

 medying this defect of the art, by giving in many cases 

 the thorax or elytrum apart, with all its sculptural pecu- 

 liarities : but this is not, and cannot be, done so as to re- 

 present every one. But though in general figures should 

 be your last resort, I know not whether an exception to 

 the rule may not be advisable with respect to the Lepi- 

 doptera, which are more difficult to be intelligibly de- 

 scribed than any other order of insects ; while a good 

 figure exhibits to the eye all those markings and shades, 

 that scarcely any description can place clearly before the 

 mind. 



When every attempt to investigate the name of your 

 unknown species fails, and you have consequently reason 

 to believe that it is undescribed, the best mode you can 

 pursue for retaining that knowledge of its characters, 

 which from your long investigation you must have ac- 

 quired, is to- note them down in your entomological 

 journal, inserting it under its proper genus with a trivial 

 name of your own. Such a journal you will find almost 

 a sine qua non for containing a catalogue of your insects, 

 and to register any observations concerning individuals 

 you may have had an opportunity of making. With 

 regard to this journal, I should recommend to you to 

 get two blank books. One a duodecimo of 200 or 300 

 pages, to contain the mere catalogue of your insects, 



