THE 
WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST 
“entoma quidqutd agent nostei est park ago libelli.” 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1863, [Price 2 d . 
No. 27.] 
AUGUST- 
/ANE great secret of entomological 
^ success at each, period of the 
year is to know what description of 
work is best suited to it, and one great 
secret of appreciating success when 
it is obtained is to entertain correct 
opinions as to what success is. In 
illustration of the former of these 
positions, we have only to consider 
the probability of result attending 
the operation of sugaring in the day- 
time, or of beating the hedges in 
winter, or similar methods of collect- 
ing ; and in illustration of the latter a 
thousand instances to the point will 
spring to the mind of every reader. 
Now, though these statements may 
justly be regarded as truisms, it is 
no less true that we constantly act 
in disregard of them. Several cir- 
cumstances have lately come before 
us which have led us to the con- 
clusion that it would not be in- 
appropriate to remind our readers of 
these unquestionable facts. Such a 
course may lead some of their num- 
ber to success in the present month, 
which they would not otherwise 
attain, and may convince some 
grumbler that he ought rather to be 
rejoicing. 
As we write these lines the ap- 
pearance of everything is truly 
characteristic of the month. An 
unequalled spring as regards the 
fineness of the weather, gave place 
to a brilliant June, which, in its 
turn, made way for a baking July. 
August at present promises to be an 
intensified July, and, as might be 
reasonably expected, is likely to give 
a character to entomology as well as 
to everything else. 
It is a remarkable thing that the 
coleopterist, while his brother of the 
butterflies and moths is enjoying 
the harvest of Lepidoptera which is 
now to be reaped, has no such like- 
lihood of success to boast. July 
and August are, perhaps, the worst 
months in the year for beetles, owing, 
of course, to their retired habits, 
which makes the times when they 
retire to and leave their winter 
quarters the most opportune mo- 
ments to secure them. We cannot 
help thinking, however, that more 
might be got than is got, if collec- 
tors knew better how to look for it. 
Beetles love moisture, and conse- 
