BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY. 451 



adorned with the purest, the sincerest, modesty. We have 

 still amongst us examples equally brilliant; philosophers 

 whose grey heads are as much loved for their meekness as 

 respected for their knowledge. Is there not such an one in 

 entomology ? is there not one placed on an eminence so far 

 above us that he might dictate to us all? but we see him 

 willing to learn of all, to bear with all, to yield to all ; the 

 mildest, most humble, most unassuming of men, clothed as it 

 were in a complete unconsciousness of his own superiority. 

 The fact is, that a sip of the waters of science intoxicates — a 

 deep draught sobers. The smatterer in learning wonders 

 that he knows so much ; the devoted student that he knows so 

 little. It is only when we have made some progress in the 

 paths of knowledge that we can form any just idea of their 

 extent. Man is somewhat like a drum, — the sound is a 

 symptom of its emptiness. When a man recounts his own 

 deeds, it is a sign that no one else thinks them worth recount- 

 ing : such a man's fame depends upon the length of his life ; 

 for after his tongue has ceased to move, and his hand to hold 

 the pen, no one will take enough interest in the theme to 

 renew it. These little observations may be trite, but they are 

 nevertheless wholesome, and we hope their introduction here 

 will not be taken amiss. Their application may be made by 

 each of us without risk of injury ; for who is there that can boast 

 of sufficient knowledge to authorize his disregard of modesty. 



Akt. hNh— British Entomologij. Nos. \\.\ — \\6, By 

 John Curtis, F. L. S. 



We never recollect addressing ourselves to a task which we 

 so heartily wished to avoid, as that on which we are now 

 about to enter ; nothing but the call of imperative duty could 

 induce us to undertake it. We have been angry, but we shall 

 not commit ourselves ; the first burst of indignation has passed 

 away, and in sorrow, in deep sorrow, do we ascend the tri- 

 bunal which we are compelled to occupy, and judge between 

 the offender and the offended. 



