TH^ ENTOMOLOGSST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 260.] SATUEDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1861. [Pbice Id. 
2Tt)e ^fntontologist’s 
Sntcnigencer 
WILL 
NOT BE COHTIinTSD 
after the close of 
THE PRESENT VOLUME. 
SOLITUDE. 
Society has its distractions, hut does 
not produce half the evils of solitude. 
Alone, one is naturally the centre of 
all one’s thoughts ; hence not simply 
selfishness, but self-conceit is engen- 
dered. Not coming in contact with 
others, or only coming in epistolatory 
contact with such as wish to consult 
one, and who therefore look up to one, 
is it not manifest that complacency 
and self-conceit are well supplied with 
provender? 
Yet let the demigod emerge from 
his seclusion and appear in the broad 
light of day amongst his fellow-men, 
and how soon the notion of almost 
superhuman skill and knowledge va- 
nishes ! 
As the fresh sea-breeze to the 
dwellers in the most squalid courts 
of the most densely populated town, 
so is the healthful atmosphere of living 
scientific controversy to those who have 
studied for months in perfect seclu- 
sion from their fellow-labo.urers in 
Science. 
r 
It was well observe!^ by Professor 
Babington, when opening the pro- 
ceedings of the Zoological and Bo- 
tanical Section of the British Associa- 
tion, at Manchester, on the 5th of this 
month, that scientific discussions, car- 
ried on vivd voce and with the good 
temper and amenity that generally 
does characterize such discussions, had 
often the beneficial effect of dispelling 
prejudices conceived between those who 
only knew one another on paper, and 
that when combatants came to talk 
face to face, each found the other 
really not so bad a fellow after all. 
Mr. Stainton will be “at home” on 
Wednesday next, October 2, at 6 p.m., 
as usual. 
N.B. Future announcements will be 
made by circulars sent by post to all 
those who have attended at any “at 
home” within the two years immediately 
preceding. 
2 D 
