THE EMTOSVIOLOGISTS 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 250.] SATUEDAY, JULY 20, 1861. [Price Id. 
VOLUNTEERS. 
At the last meeting of the Ento- 
mological Society a military gentle- 
man, who has not attended any of our 
meetings for some time, and of whom 
entomologically little or nothing has 
lately been heard, apologised for his 
absence and silence, remarking that 
his lime had been very much taken 
up with the volunteer movement. 
If a military man finds that the 
volunteer movement interferes with his 
pursuit of Entomology, of course such 
of our readers who are patriotic mem- 
bers of the various corps scattered 
through the country, and who are not 
professed militaires, must find their 
entomologic tendencies sadly crippled. 
The volunteer, as we take it, is a 
civilian employed at a desk from 
morning to evening every day in the 
week, except on Saturdays, when we 
suppose he is set free at 2 p.m. Now, 
in order to fit himself for his post as 
a volunteer, he has to drill — when ? 
In the early morning and in the 
evening; and he has occasionally to 
march out with the battalion to which 
his corps belongs — when ? On Satur- 
day afternoons. 
Now what time has such a volunteer 
for Entomology? Simply, none at all. 
Hence it is not surprising that many 
who ivere entomologists a few years 
ago have gradually dropped off, not 
that they by any means deliberately 
turned their backs on Entomology ; but 
they undertake new duties — found fresh 
claims on their time; then, being 
thrown amongst fresh companions, to 
whom they could not talk of their 
hexapod predilections, the love of En- 
tomology gradually burnt out in them. 
Calls for subscriptions for a bugle, a 
band, new uniforms, — the exchequer 
becomes embarassed ; they seek then 
what unnecessary expenditure they can 
retrench. So first goes one thing, 
then another; soon the subscription to 
the Entomological Society is dropped ; 
then the collection is going to ruin, — 
the mites will soon eat it, — better 
sell it while worth anything; so the 
collection is speedily disposed of, 
and the entomological library probably 
follows ? 
Whilst thus entomologists, once ar- 
deflt, are disappearing and vanishing 
K 
