THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 11/.] S.\TUUD.1Y, DECEMBER 95, 1858. [Pbicb U . 
CLOSE OF THE YEAE. 
When next we meet our readers 1858 
will be no more. Now, therefore, it 
behoves each individual to take stock 
not only of the increase to his collec- 
tion, but also of the increase to his 
knowledge that has taken place during 
the past twelve months. 
The mass of observations, interesting 
it is true, but unrecorded and undi- 
gested, made in the past year, is some- 
thing fearful ; their fate most surely, 
if it has not already overtaken them, 
is — to be forgotten. 
Chronicle the events as they pass 
daily and hourly before you ; take 
pattern by the astronomer and the 
meteorologist; they, like entomohtgists, 
are observers, but they, unlike entomo- 
logists in general, note down, at the 
time, their observations. Fancy a me- 
teorologist who had kept no record of 
the vagaries of his barometer and 
thermometer for a twelvemonth, gravely 
trying to moralize and deduce in- 
ferences from his recollection of their 
performances in the past year. What 
astronomical laws would have been de- 
duced had the motions of the heavenly 
bodies — that is, a series of observations 
of their apparent places at different 
periods of time — not been recorded ? 
“ Let diaries, therefore, he made." 
In another column will be found a 
communication from Mr. Wilkinson on 
the subject of a diary, and we should 
be glad to hear from any who 
think that they could profitably offer 
suggestions to the younger race of 
entomologists, with a view to the more 
profitable employment of their time. 
Whilst the New Year is still young 
many may feel disposed to “ turn over 
a new leaf.” The importance of a few 
good diaries systematically kept can 
scarcely be overrated, and we are sure 
our younger readers will never regret 
if they can only once contract the 
habit of chronicling “ the moments as 
they fly.” We know ourselves how 
much — how very much — we have 
gained from a few observations on this 
subject, penned by the late James 
Francis Stephens, in the pages of the 
‘ Zoologist,’ and therefore we are 
anxious that others should now be- 
times take warning and be duly im- 
pressed with the importance of syste- 
matically recording their observations. 
A faithful record of what we see, even 
though perhaps we do not fully 
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