65 
To every dark cloud, however, we are told there is a silver 
lining, and this we hope will be the case in the matter of the 
future protection of our insectivorous birds; and owing to the 
persistent efforts of the Field Naturalists’ Club, supported by the 
Zoological Society, together with my own humble efforts in the 
same direction, this has been taken in hand by the Governments 
of the day, the result being that many of our best birds are per- 
manently protected throughout the year. 
As to the causes leading to such a wholesale slaughter of these 
birds I have little to say, but if I were to express my feelings on 
the subject I fear it would be much more impressive than edifying 
to you. I feel, however, that, to put it mildly, a deal of the 
destruction has been caused through a want of knowledge of the 
subject, and this is where I consider that an acquaintance both 
practical as well as scientific with economic entomology, coupled 
with ornithology, is absolutely indispensable to those engaged in 
our great rural industries. ? 
Within the present century, at least according to Kirby and 
Spence in their delightful volumes on entomology, one of the prin- 
cipal causes of the little attention paid to entomology in England 
has been the ridicule and almost, we may say, contempt which 
have by the ignorant and unthinking been lavished upon those 
who ventured to preach any of the advantages to be gained by a 
study of such matters; but in a comparatively few years things 
in this respect have vastly changed, and we have but to look to 
America with its splendidly equipped entomological institutions, 
and as their systems are being followed by Europe and the 
colonies also, they are thus leading the way in such eminently 
useful work. 
Great naval and military commanders have told us how that to 
be fully acquainted with the habits or movements of an enemy is 
to assist them materially in the annihilation of the latter, and so 
it is with ourselves in connexion with a knowledge of insect life 
in all its interesting though oft-times very destructive bearings. 
We must be able to follow the practice of a physician or surgeon, 
viz., to diagnose where such is required, and, having found out 
the true cause and seat of the disease, then proceed to apply, if 
possible, the remedy. ae 
Supposing, for example, that a young man—and it is for such 
that this little discourse has been prepared—who is tired of the 
apparently dazzling but very temporary pleasures of city life, 
wishes to go on to the land and commence an independent busi- 
ness of his own, say, as an orchardist. He will first of all consult 
some good authority as to the best situation to commence 
operations. Having made up his mind, he will naturally wish to 
know more about that which he is about to undertake. He will, 
if convenient, obtain suitable books, attend practical lectures 
826. Ez 
