Insects. 4183 



would afford more entomological questions than he could answer, and 

 prove a " terra incognita" for him to explore. 



There are, nevertheless, a few Alexanders among us, who sigh for 

 more worlds to conquer. So be it. Be it our business to work up 

 the Entomology of Britain ; let it be theirs to do their best for the 

 lands to which fortune or favour may direct them. I wish there were 

 more such men ; for, as it is, the field is disproportionate to the la- 

 bourers, and ere long there will be many more openings. China, for 

 instance, what a glorious chance for a life-time of collecting new forms 

 in a new country — unknown to naturalists, except in part by one 

 Englishman — 



" fortunatus puer ! " 



Can there be any dangers or difficulties in that flowery land sufficient 

 to deter ? Who will go up and possess it ? Then, again, Japan ! — 

 where, after our Brother Jonathan has employed the gentle persua- 

 sives of his gunpowder in the cause of the almighty dollar, — will no 

 one follow his philanthropic footsteps for the purposes of Entomolo- 

 gy ? * India, and the isles of the Indian Seas, rich as they must be 

 beyond all idea, would absorb many devotees of the science. Africa, 

 mostly unknown, and Australia as little, cry out for more, and, be- 

 hold ! we have no corps de reserve of naturalists to occupy the posts 

 as opportunities occur. Commerce itself, to the inordinate attention 

 to which may be traced the apathy with which Natural-History sci- 

 ence is generally regarded, may eventually be more deeply injured 

 than is thought, by the absence from new countries of observers of 

 their productions, and which, only after a long interval, become arti- 

 cles of trade. It is surely time that England taught her sons, through 

 her public schools, so much of the myriad forms of vegetable and ani- 

 mal life, that when, in fulfilment of their presumed destiny to wander 

 over the earth, they alight in a new country, they may not find it to be 

 quite so much as now a " terra incognita" 



This is now, therefore, no time for any one, to whatever department 

 of Entomology he may have been attached, to hang up his armour or 

 let it rust. Moreover, as our old commanders, one by one, fade into 

 the spirit land, it seems more and more a difficulty to see among the 

 rank and file those who are to supply their places ; and a proper con- 

 sideration of the subject would, I think, show that instead of any 



* Since this was written, news has arrived that Commodore Perry has given the 

 Emperor twelve months to consider the President's letter, when he will call for the an- 

 swer ; if it be not favourable, why then we shall see 



