29 
undoubtedly well-meaning—attacks on the part of those who have 
taken up arms against the ruthless “ exterminator.” In these days 
of statistical study of variation, &c., it is absolutely unavoidable that 
large series should be obtained from restricted localties, and that 
there should be, consequently, a large sacrifice of insect life. On the 
other hand, no lover of scientific research would wish to risk the ex¬ 
termination of a single species, nor would he dream of applying those 
wanton methods of work which constitute the real “ over-collecting ” 
and one or two of which I have heard exposed in this room by my 
illustrious predecessor in the chair—for example, the collecting in 
sacks of every rosebud in a certain small wood at the time when the 
lame of Plati/ptilia rhododactijla were feeding, and the consequent 
extirpation of this local species there—or, at least, its entire disappear¬ 
ance for a considerable number of years. It is such actions as this 
which have naturally disgusted us, and given us an abhorrence of the 
very mention of large numbers, which abhorrence, perhaps, threatens 
to carry us too far—although I have not yet met with the entomolo¬ 
gist who is quite so undiscriminating as to criticise the records which 
are published from time to time of the collection of thousands of lame 
or pupa) of Arctia caia or Spilote prossluanata with a view to variety 
breeding. 
I hope I have said enough to give food for some reflection, and it 
now only remains to me to introduce to you my good friend and suc¬ 
cessor, Mr. A. W. Mera, and to wish continued and increasing health 
and prosperity to the City of London Entomological and Natural 
History Society. 
