[With Plate.] 



$hf *to«ng JJnf uralist : 



A Penny Weekly Magazine of Natural History. 



No. 67, 



FEBBUABY 5th, 1881. 



Vol. 2. 



EXCURSIONS. 



^yfOKE than twenty years ago, Mr. 



Stainton used to advertise in 

 the pages of the Intelligencer, that he 

 would meet beginners in " Burnt Ash 

 Lane," or some other well known spot, 

 at a certain fixed time. Some, "whose 

 courage did not bring them to an " At 

 Home/' managed to appear in the 

 lane, and no doubt these excursions 

 were of infinite advantage to those who 

 joined in them, particularly when they 

 had so able an instructor. A beginner 

 can learn more in an hour, when he is 

 out with an " old hand," than he will 

 learn in a month by himself. It is so 

 much easier to show a thing, than to 

 describe it ; so much easier to learn by 

 seeing another do it, than from reading 

 verbal instructions. We see no reason 

 why in the coming season, such meet- 

 ings might not be arranged at various 

 places, by some of those willing helpers 

 who are ever ready to aid others, and 

 especially beginners. The space in our 

 paper that has been used for " At 

 Homes" is at the service of anyone 

 disposed to arrange a similar meeting 



at any time during the coming season. 

 What an advantage hWould have been 

 to us in our early days, if opportunity 

 had been afforded of similar character, 

 and if Entomologists in various parts 

 of the country would take the trouble 

 to arrange such meetings occasionally 

 now, we are sure it would be a great 

 boon to the rising generation. Besides 

 the help it would be to the young, we 

 have no doubt many a collector, who 

 has been labouring for years almost 

 alone, would delight to meet some 

 whose names have been to him a 

 "household word" for years, but whom 

 he has never been privileged to meet. 

 We throw out the hint, and shall be 

 glad if any one will take it up. 



In heading this paper "Excursions" 

 we had another idea, besides that 

 already expressed. We have travelled 

 thousands of miles alone, in pursuit of 

 our favourite game, but we must con- 

 fess we would at any time prefer to 

 have had a companion in our rambles. 

 If it were only to have some one to 

 rejoice with us when we have been 

 fortunate, or condole with us when the 

 reverse has befallen us, a companion 

 is a pleasant thing. But when a kin- 



