136 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION. 



Study of natural history would soon become encumbered with 

 trivial terms, such as those in use among the cultivators of 

 selected and hybridised varieties of plants. 



I think there has been of late years too great a tendency 

 among entomologists to attach specific value to minute differ- 

 ences of colour and markings unaccompanied by structural 

 divergence ; and although this excess of zeal may have some 

 value in drawing attention to the fertility of resource exhibited 

 by Nature in the process of differentiation, it has its extreme dis- 

 advantages in producing long lists of synonyms, rendering the 

 work of scientific investigators in the future more difficult and 

 laborious. If we are to depend upon the possibility of acquir- 

 ing complete life histories of the many rare and unique forms 

 which adorn the collections of specialists, before we may venture 

 finally to determine whether many of these are, or are not, 

 entitled to specific rank, there is indeed a task before those who 

 would study the insect fauna of the world, which must necessa- 

 rily occupy a vast number of generations. The mass of ever- 

 increasing literature on all subjects at the present day is con- 

 stantly rendering more difficult the task of mastering the details 

 of any appreciable part of it. It is only too probable, as has 

 been the case in the history of the world from the earliest dawn 

 of civilisation, that one generation may forget what another 

 knew, and that men may devote their time and energy to lines 

 of research which have long since been followed to their legiti- 

 mate deductions. 



The value and importance of societies such as are repre- 

 sented here to day, can scarcely be over-estimated. They afford 

 to those who are most in need of such enjoyment the oppor- 

 tunity of acquiring an insight into the pleasures and interests of 

 country life, and the often much-needed fresh air and recreation 

 of which their town pursuits would deprive them. Moreover, 

 they add greatly to the sum of our knowledge, by establishing 

 the interest of individual members in different lines of enquiry 



Trans. Y.N. U., 1883 (pub. 1885). Series D 



