THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 80.] 
SUBJECTS OP EXAMINATION. 
We suggested last week the desirability 
of an Entomological Examination, and 
we showed that to allow an “old hand” 
of seventy to compete with an “ in- 
cipient” of seventeen would be unfair, 
and we recommended that this Ento- 
mological Examination should only be 
open to those who have not yet attained 
the age of twenty. 
But we had not space then to discuss 
the question of the Subjects of Exami- 
nation ; if we propose only very recon- 
dite subjects, the result would probably 
be that hardly any one would care 
to be examined; whereas, if we pro- 
pose something very simple, it will be 
doubted whether an examination therein 
would be of any use. 
In this state of doubt, we call upon 
our readers, who are between seventeen 
and twenty years of age, and who feel 
that they are studying Entomology (and 
not merely playing with it), to state 
in what entomological work they would 
wish to be examined, in order to test 
their proficiency: if a sufficient number 
respond to this appeal, it is by no 
means improbable that we may deduce 
some curious statistical information. 
Pending a response to this appeal, 
[Price Id . 
we think it would be premature for us 
to indicate our own views on the sub- 
ject, as we do not wish to bias our 
readers by appearing to hint what sort 
of a reply we should expect. 
Of course, if we were to consult the 
writers on Entomology, each would sug- 
gest his own as the best book in which 
the student should be examined, — at 
any rate, we should think it very strange 
if he did not do so; hence it is that 
we adopt the alternative of appealing 
to the readers, to know what works 
on Entomology they are studying, and 
which are those in which they would 
desire to be examined. We shall be 
glad to receive replies to this inquiry 
on or before Wednesday next, the 14th 
instant. 
The other branches of this subject, 
the certificates of merit and the prizes 
to be awarded, we must still reserve 
for consideration in a future number. 
Of course upon the last-named topic 
must manifestly greatly depend the suc- 
cessful carrying out of the whole idea, 
for if nothing tangible is to be gained 
by undergoing the examination, how 
many would be disposed to take any 
trouble in the matter? 
In the mean time we shall be glad 
to be favoured with suggestions on these 
branches of the subject. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1858. 
