1G6 



The Naturalist. 



gratulate ourselves that our Society has not failed in its duty in this 

 respect. We have had many and able papers — the result of patient 

 observation and diligent search — and all, more or less, with a 

 decidedly local tendency. It is, therefore, a source of some regret 

 that lack of sufficiently long experience in the field of nature, and 

 want of time for adequate investigation into its details, prevent my 

 adding another to the interesting monographs which our Society has 

 produced. I am thus thrust back on the wider field of theory, and 

 propose to-night, regarding our favourite study more from a subjective 

 than an objective point of view, to consider more the bearing and 

 value of entomology as a study, rather than to add anything to that 

 study by a discourse on the subjects to which it relates ; and I am 

 the more desirous of elucidating such a line of thought from the 

 feeling that it would be well if we could all recognise the exact value 

 and influence of practical natural science — more especially in its 

 relations to the insect world — in its philosophical character, not less 

 than merely as a recreation. Perhaps it may be thought something 

 very like waste of time to defend a study whose value our presence 

 here is a proof that we all appreciate, but at the same time it might 

 be thought worth while, by some, to consider for a short time the 

 grounds on which we rest that appreciation, to assure ourselves that 

 to the study of moths and butterflies it is really worth while devoting 

 time, thought, and energy. No doubt many if not all of us have to 

 contend with a vast amount of ridicule and derision, even from those 

 whom we should otherwise consider wise and reasonable ; it is but 

 natural that ignorance should ridicule what it fails to comprehend, and 

 vulgarly deride what it is too blind to appreciate ; these we can afford 

 to smile at. No intellectual exercise is or ever was free from their 

 attacks, and our special study being the object of such, only shows 

 that we are somewhat elevated above the tastes and feelings of the 

 masses ; but when we are assailed by persons of undoubted intellectual 

 capacity, men whose minds are accustomed to the pursuit of various 

 forms of knowledge, who can think as freely and as much without 

 prejudice as we can ourselves, perhaps more so, — and there are many 

 such — when we are asked by these with perhaps a scarcely concealed 

 smile at the peurile character of our pursuits — What is the real use 

 of entomology, of getting together the worms and creeping things of 

 the earth, and spending our energy over the acquisition of bright 

 fragile bits of membrane in which the labour of years may be destroyed 

 by one sweep of the arm 1 — are we always prepared with a ready and 

 complete defence, alike satisfactory to ourselves and undeniable by 



