102 Instructions for Collecting 



It is probably the difficulty of the pursuit that deter many from 

 commencing- it, but from experience I can say, that it is not so 

 hard to learn as may be imagined, provided the tyro take an in- 

 terest in it. He must be fully determined on what Order he is to 

 study, as it is almost impossible to study all the Orders; and once 

 resolved to follow any favoiite branch, his next move will be 

 towards the formation of a collection. " All entomologists begin 

 (I believe, without exception) with being collectors of insects ; 

 and, therefore, he who is simply a collector of insects, is not or 

 that acccount, to be despised. We do not see the apple trees 

 produce fruit at once, but first comes the bud, then the blossom, 

 and afterwards the fruit ; so the collector of insects, his first desire- 

 is simply that of getting — 



" Orecropias innatus apes amor urget habendi." 



But even in pursuit of that object, he cannot but notice- 

 some modes of getting succeed better than others, that he finds 

 certain insects in certain places, and so by degrees a habit of 

 observation is formed. Now, of all branches of study, entomology 

 is perhaps, the most attractive to the young. One great advan- 

 tage is, that it is a pursuit which combines the healthful exercise 

 of the sportsman with no small amount of head-work at home ; 

 and with this advantage over any other pursuit in which the out- 

 door exercise and the in-door study are totally disconnected, be- 

 cause here each reacts upon the other \ the entomologist carefully 

 examines a specimen under the microscope to ascertain to what 

 group it should belong, and during his next walk he takes pains 

 to observe the habits of the species when at ^arge, in order to 

 be able by analogy to trace with what species it has afSnity," 



Insects are to be looked for everywhere, nevertheless, there are 

 certain places more productive than others. I may here state that 

 I used the sweeping-net on the mountain behind Montreal, and 

 also on the low shrubbery in that locality, situated between 

 that city and Lachine ; both of these places are very productive 

 in Coleoptera. I captured four species ofZe&m, as well as several 

 species of Curculionidce and Cassidce. If there is an entomolog-ist 

 residing in Montreal, he should make frequent visits to these 

 places. 



Moss should be carefully examined (for the minuter species,) 

 especially on the trunks of trees. The fungi and agarics must 

 never be neglected, as they frequently teem with life. Dead ani- 



