OUT-DOOR ENTOMOLOGIST. 3/ 



less intricate than it at first appears. If, however, after all 

 research into the works of those a u thors who have especially 

 devoted their attention to the family or genus of insects, to 

 which the one under examination belongs, it should be evi- 

 dent that it is a nondescript, its description, embodying the 

 points of distinction which it presents with reference to the 

 already described species, and whether resulting from struc- 

 tural variation, or from differences of colour, or of striation 

 or puncturation (as in the beetles), may be attempted, taking 

 as models the specific descriptions contained in such ad- 

 mirable monographs as those of Mr. Kirby upon the English 

 bees or the genus Apion, or that of Latreille upon the ants. 



But the investigation of species, although valuable for the 

 sake of precision in the identity of the object which is the 

 subject of observation, is by no means essential for enabling 

 us to study the structure or economy of an insect ; and this 

 brings to our notice several other classes of entomologists, 

 who more especially merit the title of philosophical observers 

 of nature. Of these the out-door naturalist first claims our 

 attention. Instead of running from one end of the country 

 to the other, climbing mountains and descending valleys, 

 stopping only so long as may be necessary to transfix the 

 luckless objects of his chase, and deeming himself happy 

 only when his collecting box is filled with specimens, the 

 real observer of nature finds materials for study even at his 

 own door. The former, it is true, meets with many rarities, 

 and even perhaps nondescript species ; but notwithstanding 

 all his toil, has he observed a single fact relative to the his- 

 tory and economy of a single insect? Swammerdam and 

 Reaumur toiled not thus, and yet their labours are read even 

 now by all the world, whereas the labours of the collector 

 are but at best selfish, and the descriptions of his new spe- 

 cies read only by a few amateur collectors like himself. 



Seek then a spot favourable for the habitations of insects 



E 



