230 
THE SUBSTITUTE 
a race of learners to whom the 
experience of other learners is 
valuable, especially when those 
who are their seniors, and might 
teach them more and better, dis- 
dained to instruct them through 
the medium of our pages. It 
will, however, be consolatory to 
some of our young contributors to 
know that their communications, 
void though they may be of no- 
velty, on account of the fresh- 
ness and thorough heartiness 
exhibited, have received the com- 
mendation of entomologists, whose 
position, ability and power of 
appreciation are unquestioned. 
We are, therefore, pleased that we 
have given these young aspirants 
the opportunity of appearing in 
print; and trust that the expec- 
tations of better things that we 
have from some of them may one 
day be realised. There are other 
communications that need no 
apology. 
The section of 
EXTRACTS 
contains, among other good mat- 
ter, copious quotations from 
Guenee’s great work on the Noc- 
luina, about which we need say 
nothing, for they have been re- 
ceived with unqualified approval 
by all. 
And now it only remains for us 
to say a word about the editorial 
articles. In these we have en- 
deavoured to raise the tone of 
thought among collectors, and to 
lead them to look at Entomology 
with reference to its science and 
general principles. Now and 
then we turned to practical mat- 
ters, and on one subject, “The 
Cabinet Question,” the commu- 
nications we received and printed 
induce us to think that it will be 
the fault of entomologists them- 
selves if they are ever again vic- 
timised in respect of cabinets. 
Once or twice there happened 
to be an infinitesimal excess of 
gall in the ink, as we found after- 
wards by the wincing of certain 
individuals, though we can affirm 
that we aimed rather at things 
than persons. They complained 
of our abuse of them, but though, 
like Quixote, we tilled at their 
windmill, we knew not the owner. 
If we had, as they wished, printed 
their communications in reply, 
there would have been a revelation 
of what abuse really is, and show- 
ered out as it was upon several 
heads, would have thrown our 
words into shade, and subjected 
the writers, and probably our- 
selves, to action for libel. 
And now our melodrama is 
ended; we make. our bow and 
retire, thanking those good friends 
who have assisted us, and hoping 
and believing that we have been 
useful in keeping alive during the 
“ winter of our discontent ” the em- 
bers, which will now need no sti- 
