51 



flht .tj« j$tubg of €ntoma%g. 



By the Rev. T. A. Maeshall. 



[^NE of the most important functions of a local scientific society 

 should be to create and foster among its members that 

 universal spirit of enquiry which is the distinctive character o£ the 

 scientific mind. Not, indeed, that it is desirable to persuade in- 

 dividuals with limited leisure, and tastes already definitely directed, 

 to an imperfect diffusion of their powers over new subjects; which 

 would be to promote sciolism rather than knowledge ; but it is 

 highly expedient to invite the attention of those less fully occupied, 

 to whatever branches of enquiry may seem to have been partially 

 neglected. The vastness and variety of the subjects which fall 

 within the province of a society taking its title from Archaeology 

 and Natural History offer the widest field of choice to the most 

 differently constituted minds, and if a new subject is pointed out, 

 there is at least a strong probability of its being taken up by some 

 enterprising members, to their own advantage as well as the further- 

 ance of the general object. With these views the present writer 

 ventures to recommend entomology, as a new departure in the 

 cultivation of the natural history of Wiltshire, being informed that 

 the subject is not one which at present engages the attention of 

 the society. Indeed it may be doubted whether any serious attempt 

 has ever been made to observe the insect- productions of this county, 

 apart from those general works which treat of the indigenous Fauna 

 of Great Britain or of Europe. 



The study of entomology is considered, in the eyes of the world, 

 as merely an agreeable pastime, without any ulterior object of utility. 

 A certain amount of raillery usually falls to the lot of those who 

 seem simple enough to occupy themselves with the consideration of 

 minute animals, vulgarly supposed to be either noxious or repulsive. 

 This is probably a fair statement of public opinion on the subject, 

 But if we turn to the class of adepts in the science, we find that 



e % 



