THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 82.] 
COLLECTING. 
“ Collecting for the mere sake of 
having specimens is an unworthy pur- 
suit, in comparison with which col- 
lecting for sale is honourable.” 
The above sentence occurs in the 
extracts we gave last week from an 
article by Dr. Hooker, and we fancy 
it must have inflicted an awkward 
wound on the self-love of those col- 
lectors who have deemed that they were 
“ amateurs,” and therefore vastly supe- 
rior to that class on whom they look 
down as “ dealers.” 
What! is it more honourable to col- 
lect for sale than to collect for the 
simple purpose of having specimens? 
Half our readers stand aghast! and 
are curious perhaps to know whether 
we are seriously going to suggest that 
each should set up a shop and stand 
behind a counter retailing butterflies 
and beetles to such of Her Majesty’s 
subjects as feel disposed to give in 
exchange for those articles the current 
coin of the realm. 
But stop, Dr. Hooker was writing 
only of collecting plants , and perhaps 
to collecting insects the same remarks 
would not apply? Does any sane 
reader endeavour to “lay this flattering 
[Price 1 d. 
unction to his soul?” Surely he must 
see that collections of plants and col- 
lections of insects must stand in the 
same category. 
It remains therefore as a fearfully 
thrilling declaration that “ collecting for 
the mere sake of having specimens is 
au unworthy pursuit, in comparison 
with which collecting for sale is ho- 
nourable.” 
Is no hope then held out that col- 
lectors map attain a more honourable 
position and rank above, or at least on 
a level with, the dealers, instead of 
below them ? Because, if any such 
hope is held out, it ought to serve 
as an incitement to exertion, as none 
surely are so sunk as to be unwilling 
to rise, did they but know how. 
Again, we quote Dr. Hooker, “But 
a collection made with the view to 
study is of more importance than even 
books.” “ Specimens are means, not 
ends.” 
Will such of our readers as are at 
present collecting “ merely for the sake 
of having specimens” please to bear 
this in mind : perfectly aware, as we 
are, of the pleasure of making a col- 
lection , we can assure those who have 
not advanced further that there are 
other and higher pleasures in store, if 
they will but go — onward, onward. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1858. 
E 
