9 
only treated to shakes of the head and sinister looks, as though he 
were some dangerous character, when in answer to their questions 
‘ What are they for?” “ What do you do with them?” he can not 
assure his interrogators that he either eats or, that which last of all 
he would do, sells his specimens. 
But I have said that the change for the better in this respect has 
evennow setin. Already the most highly civilized nations of the world 
nobly headed by the Government of the most practical and energetic 
people on the face of the globe, the inhabitants of the United States of 
America, have seen the advantage of appointing specialists who can 
: 
devise means for the prevention of the enormous losses of revenue due 
to the attacks of injurious insects. Germany, England and her col- 
onies, notably Canada and particularly the province of Ontario, France, 
Italy, and other nations, all have followed the lead, and our favorite 
_ sclence has now changed from a study and amusement of the few to 
one of the most important branches of practical agriculture, the ele- 
ments of which must be known by all engaged in tilling the soil or they 
will surely suffer. Already it finds a place upon the curricula of many 
of our schools and colleges and before long will force itself upon the 
notice of others. There has been a rapid development in this line, not 
only in this country, but everywhere, during the last two or three years, 
and many new men have come to the front. My presumption does not 
carry me so far as to criticise these or other workers; but perhaps I 
may be permitted to refer to some of the dangers which beset a newly 
appointed entomologist, and particularly a young one. In such a task 
one must necessarily (for safety’s sake) reter to what has occurred to 
himself in his own experience.. The first consideration must of course 
always be to succeed in the work which you have undertaken, and 
I can not help thinking that some err considerably when they think 
that they will be expected to know everything and must answer every 
question offhand. On this point I am speaking particularly of our re- 
lations with farmers, who are as a rule very practical men, made so by 
the exigencies of their lives, but who are frequently those who have not 
had the advantages of a liberal education, and consequently have not 
the consideration and moderation which that alone gives. Moreover, 
as there is no policy so poor, because it is invariably seen through, as 
that which prompts an entomologist, when seeking information from one 
whom he knows is better posted than himself, to try and hide his lack 
of knowledge by making excuses why he does not recognize that exact 
specimen, or by asking indefinite questions in the hope of getting what 
he requires, without in so many words acknowledging his ignorance, so 
in the same way does he expose himself to the contempt and want of 
confidence from those in whom he most desires to inspire respect, by 
trying to put them off with an indefinite answer. It has been my ex- 
perience that 2 modest and honest acknowledgment of ignorance is no. 
disgrace and brings no degradation with it, whilst an assumption of 
