54 On the Study of Fjntomology. 



assistance ; for it is obvious that without classification as an instru- 

 ment, the naturalist would be unable to work, or lie would have to 

 spend his time in manufacturing his own tools. Classification, how- 

 ever, is but an instrument, and a very imperfect one; and to confine 

 entomology to this acceptation is as bad as it would be to rank 

 index-making on a level with authorship. Or, rather, it would be 

 to reduce entomology to the condition of an abstract science, deprived 

 of the practical usefulness which chiefly distinguishes it, and further 

 denuded of that grace and poetical charm which constitute its 

 greatest attractions. 



The third and highest category comprises the naturalists, this 

 name being here taken in its proper sense. Of these it would be 

 invidious to say that there are not many ; but the great shining 

 lights — the Linnes and Darwins — unhappily occur only at the rate 

 of two or three in a century, or still more rarely. The aims and 

 functions of the naturalist are immeasurably beside and beyond 

 those of the two classes just mentioned. He may be compared to 

 the architect who plans and directs the building of an edifice ; the 

 collector brings the stones, and the systematist, who serves tables, 

 is the clerk of the works. The naturalist, then, begins where the 

 others leave offj he accepts the results of his colleagues as the 

 foundation and materials of a higher superstructure, reserving to 

 himself the right of judging, adopting, or rejecting, the vast 

 accumulation of facts. He is not necessarily the possessor of large 

 or well-ordered collections ; in fact he is more disposed to dissect 

 specimens than to preserve them. He is not the slave of any par- 

 ticular kind of classification, knowing that most of the existing 

 systems are houses of cards, liable to fall flat at a breath, or elaborate 

 cobwebs which any bouncing wasp can disorganize in a moment. 

 His principal attention is most likely given to his register of ob- 

 servations, filled with real treasures, although inappreciable to the 

 public mind until some results are forthcoming, which (as in the 

 case of Darwin) at once command the admiration of all, with full 

 recognition of their wisdom and usefulness. 



It is worth while to turn aside for a moment, just to illustrate the 

 kind of results referred to, of which I do not hesitate to assert the 



