146 
THE SUBSTITUTE. 
wish to overrate the influence of 
outward nature, but tiiere can be 
no doubt that be who has his 
heart constantly appealed to by 
the magic beauty of Nature’s 
gems is a better man than he who 
is not under such appeals, or than 
he himself would be if removed 
from them, — at the very least he 
is out of the way of temptation 
from his fellow men. That is the 
position of the entomologist, 
though he be no more than a col- 
lector, and it is his duty to im- 
prove it ; the very fact of his being 
a collector is itself a most assuring 
sign of the capabilities of the 
man. Woubl it not be better for 
our aristocratic youths if tliey 
had a knowdedge of the insects of 
their native country ; for the mid- 
dle class young men if they were 
aware of the entomological inha- 
bitants of their locality, or for the 
toil-worn artisan, if the formation 
of a collection of insects were a 
sufficient inducement for him to 
leave the present jovial and de- 
basing excitements of his leisure? 
Assuredly it would ; every man 
requires a relief from his daily 
employment, and a vast number 
who now seek it in vicious indul- 
gences might find it in the quiet 
and harmless excitement of Ento- 
mology. 
There is a positive good then 
in being a mere collector : it is, 
moreover, a step towards scientific 
knowledge, and it is not to be 
doubted but that some collectors 
will take a step further. The dif- 
ficulties are more apparent than 
real ; to some they would be plea- 
sures. The investigation of struc- 
ture and function, their relation • 
ships and adaptations to circum- 
stances, offers such a boundless 
field of enquiry that we are sati.s- 
tied many minds only require to 
be introduced to the subject to 
pursue it with avidity. On the 
other hand, those who from any 
cause cannot rise above the rank 
of collectors might become ob- 
servers, and add to the knowledge 
of the economy of the creatures 
they collect, and they can scarcely 
work out the history of any insect 
without finding something not 
noted before. 
'The friends of the late IMr. 
David Dyson, of Manchester, 
have proposed a subscription to 
procure lithograph copies of his 
portrait. They will be executed 
by a French artist in the first style 
of the art, and the price will be 5s. 
each; framed lO.s. 
Those persons who felt an inte- 
rest in the man and his endea- 
vours in the cause of Science, may 
now assist in the attem]»t making 
to preserve a memento of this en- 
thusiastic Naturalist. Subscrip- 
tions received by Mr. J. Wasse, 
23, Ujiper liroi'k Street, Manches- 
ter. 
