148 REMAIIKS ON THE 



able to augment those of his friends and fellow-labourers in 

 science. 



I was induced to attempt to give a sketch of our Entomology, 

 (which I had intended to render far more perfect than the 

 hasty outline I now send you,) by the hope of being able to 

 contribute to the gratification of others, by making known what 

 rare insects we capture here, and thereby enabling those lovers 

 of science to whom these may be desiderata, to know in what 

 quarter to apply for specimens, and to tell them that these 

 will be cheerfully given, as they may occur, to all scientific 

 collectors who do not possess them. The wish to make some 

 remarks on the habits of particular species, an opportunity for 

 which is afforded by such a paper, and the hope that I might 

 be aiding, in some degree, our knowledge of Insect Geo- 

 graphy, by adding to my list of species some notices on the 

 climate, elevation, soil, and other local characters of this 

 neighbourhood, were two other motives which led me to begin 

 this paper. Had I at once proceeded to finish it, it might 

 have been far more perfect than it now is ; but when I had 

 some little leisure to do well that which it was in my mind to 

 do, and which I had promised you that I would do, I allowed 

 my habitual dislike of writing to prevail over me, circumstances 

 turned my attention to other fields for study, where, 



" Circumriguo surgebat lilia prato 

 Candida purpureis mista papaveribus ; 

 Qua? modo decerpens tenero pueriliter ungui 

 Proposito florem prcetuli officio." 



Or, in plain English, I spent that time in reading the chro- 

 nicles of the deeds of Spaniards in the days of the first discovery 

 and succeeding desolation of the land of my affections, which 

 ought to have been employed on this paper. And now that, 

 in order to fulfil my promise to you, I must prepare it for the 

 press, unforeseen and uncontrollable events have snatched from 

 me those few hours of daily leisure on which I could count, 

 and the affairs of business just now occupy me so fully, that 

 they sometimes barely allow me time for needful repose. I 

 lament now my error, but, 



" Quid juvat errores mersa jam puppc fatcri, 

 Quid lacrymae delicto juvant commissa sccuta.' 



My only course is, by extra exertion, to endeavour to make 



