150 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ‘INTELLI- 
GENCER.’ 
Sir, — It is to be regretted that those 
who take to themselves the office of in- 
structing the mass in Entomology (or 
other subjects) do not more frequently 
employ the method which you have put 
into practice with such good effect, viz. 
supplying their own lack of knowledge 
from the collective mass of information 
acquired by individual students and ob- 
servers. I allude more particularly to 
your letter of the 8lh inst. in the ‘ Intel- 
ligencer,’ No. 68, wherein you ask for in- 
formation respecting the larvae of Nyssia 
Hispidaria, CleoraViduaria, Hemerophila 
Abruplaria, unsupplied by M. Guenee. 
Had this author, through the medium of 
your columns, requested information on 
these and possibly other points, doubtless 
English collectors could have satisfied 
him, and his work thereby been rendered 
more complete. 
The individual collector in his wan- 
derings often attains information in de- 
tail unknown generally ; but, unless this 
information be asked for, he will not 
willingly volunteer his investigations, 
which, to his confusion, he sometimes 
hears have been commonly known for 
the last twenty years, sometimes are 
listened to with polite incredulity, and 
dropped as valueless: hence his know- 
ledge profits only himself and his few 
friends. Did the collector know what 
was required he would willingly supply 
the information, and the public benefit 
thereby. 
In proof of what I state, the larvae of 
Nyssia Hispidaria were in the possession 
of Captain Cox in the spring, and like- 
wise, 1 believe, those of Hemerophila 
Abruptaria, which latter were also taken 
to Mountsficld some eighteen months 
ago, on a Wednesday evening. Thus 
two out of the three gaps might have 
been filled up had information been 
sought from English collectors, while 
doubtless the third point, if not already 
known, might easily have been worked 
out last year, if asked for. 
Believe me, 
Yours, &c., 
Medicus. 
Jan. 26, 1858. 
AS I LAYE A-THYNKYNGE. 
As I laye a-tliynkynge, a-tbynkynge, 
a-thynkynge, 
Beneath the spreading braunclies of an 
aged tree, 
In shelter of these arms, 
Insectes dancing in swarms, 
Shewed off their rival charms, 
Gaye and free : 
As I laye a-thynkynge, most beautiful to 
see. 
As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkyuge, 
a-thynkynge, 
Mcrrie were the creatures all darting 
here and there, 
Their coates were shynyrige brighte, 
And they glistened in the liglite, — 
How beauteous was the siglite ! 
Rich and rare : 
As I laye a-thynkynge, they sported in 
the ayre. 
As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, 
a-thynkynge, 
Suddainely they rested on trunk and 
leaves, and boughes, 
A cloude obscured the sunne, 
And the dauuce, but just begun, 
Was in an instaunt donne. 
Oh ! sad close : 
As 1 laye a-thynkynge, I watched them 
in repose. 
