20 FEBRUARY. 



simplicity you give yourself up to his teaching, you 

 will receive as severe a shaking as if you had had a 

 visit from the before-mentioned denizen of the Essex 

 marshes. 



But you may be (and I dare say you are) inclined 

 to ask, how am I to know the difference between the 

 true friend and the useless companion ? Easily ; if in 

 one of your rambles you accidentally meet an Ento- 

 mologist armed cap-a-pie with beating-stick and net, 

 busily engaged in beating the trees or bushes, and 

 who, on perceiving your approach " on entomological 

 thoughts intent/' sidles as soon as he possibly can 

 down a bye-lane, or into a grove or thicket, shunning 

 your approach as if you had committed some heinous 

 crime (don't follow him) he is a useless companion. 



If, on going into the parlour or other apartment of 

 an inn to obtain refreshment, you see two or three 

 persons, who by their appurtenances are collectors, 

 busily engaged in conversation, but who on your en- 

 trance become suddenly "silent as the grave/' as 

 uncommunicative as scarecrows, and in a violent hurry 

 to depart, don't attempt to enter into conversation with 

 them ; for the effort will be useless ; they are unpro- 

 fitable companions. 



If, on inquiring of a collector the whereabouts of an 

 entomological locality, he hesitates considerably, or 

 tells you West Wickham Wood is near Oxford, San- 

 derstead is best reached by the Eastern Counties Rail, 

 and that " Darn " is in the vicinity of the Cambridge- 

 shire fens, that man is hoaxing you. Ask him upon 

 what plants the larva of any particular insect feeds, 

 and he will tell you a plant diametrically opposite. 



