Things hoped for. 4445 



Then we very much want carefully compiled local lists, published 

 in such a periodical as the * Zoologist,' containing not merely the re- 

 cord of the capture of the insects themselves, but of their times of 

 appearance, and, as far as practicable, notices of their previous stages, 

 the food of the larvae, and whether common. Nor must any one who 

 takes such a task upon himself be tied to old names and defunct lists : 

 he must travel with the age. This has been done, but such have 

 only surface views. For it is a very erroneous and stupid notion, to 

 think that because a new nomenclature has been adopted by recent 

 authors, that these authors are taking liberties. Believe me they 

 know better than those who cavil at such seeming innovations. 

 There is also a necessity for adhering to one system, for without one 

 accepted rule we should be for ever in confusion, as soldiers in a field 

 without a leader, we should not know whom to follow. Then we 

 want popular lectures delivered on Entomology : this would be a 

 great feature, and it also bears its necessity with it. The artizan and 

 the mechanic have done not a little towards the advancement of the 

 study in our land : they have been a great means in making us 

 familiar with many of the rarer insects ; and surely the alehouse 

 would be robbed of many a visitor were this course adopted : they 

 would be taught to see the benefits which they would bestow 

 on themselves and others; they would be raised from the sensual to 

 the spiritual ; their minds would become enlarged, and another link 

 in the great chain grasped by an Almighty hand would appeal 

 to their senses, and declare to them his Divine wisdom. Barren and 

 stony indeed would be the ground, and its richer parts overrun with 

 foulest reptiles, if all the seed that fell should find no rooting-place, 

 or spring up only to be devoured. 



Then we want the collectors of Micro-Lepidoptera, in their various 

 districts, to gather the larvae, each collector attaching himself to 

 a genus, and only quitting it for another after he is satisfied that he 

 has fairly worked out of his ground all that it possesses. He could 

 retain a portion of each kind he might meet with, for the purpose of 

 studying their economy ; for familiarizing himself with their habits ; 

 and for being able to point out to others what might be expected from 

 such a case-bearer, such a miner, &c. : the other portion could 

 be sent to Mr. Stainton or to Mr. Douglas, these gentlemen being 

 only too anxious to find useful correspondents in such matters. The 

 necessity for this may be learned by perusing the Prospectus en- 

 closed in the February number of the * Zoologist,' or by referring to 

 XII. 2 Q 



