Insect Architecture. 45 



with the generality, hi order that the greatest possiblie number 

 of our fellow-creatures may partake of the same benefits with 

 ourselves, deriving amusement and instruction from the rich 

 stores which their Creator has every where bountifully strewed 

 around them. 



But it is time to turn from these general remarks to the 

 book which has called them forth, and whose title stands at 

 the head of our present article. Insect Architecture, as its 

 name implies, treats of that portion of the economy of insects 

 which is more particularly displayed in the construction of 

 their nests and habitations. We believe we are correct in 

 stating that the work is from the pen of Mr. Rennie. To 

 him, at all events, we are indebted for many interesting facts 

 and valuable remarks, the result of his own personal expe- 

 rience and observation. The author, whoever he may be, 

 has executed his plan with much taste and ability, and, what 

 is more, with a right feeling throughout ; nor will it detract 

 from the merits of the work to state, that no inconsiderable 

 portion of its contents consists of little more than a compil- 

 ation — indeed it could not well be otherwise — from the 

 writings of previous authors of established reputation: for in 

 a popular treatise, like the present, the author, we think, 

 would be much to blame had he failed to avail himself of 

 the .labours of his predecessors as often as it might suit his 

 purpose. The introductory chapter is an able and interest- 

 ing essay in defence and recommendation of the study of 

 insects. We gladly extract the following passage, the senti- 

 ments of which are so much in unison with our own : — 



" The exercise t)f that habit •dfobsetvation wMch edH'aP6ilfe thak^ ^ hatu- 

 ralisf, ^anout-ofidoor'natmralist,' as'Daines Barringtoii: called himself,, is 

 well calculated to strengthen even the. most pj^aptiqal and^ ipjerdy jijseful 

 powers of the mind. One of the most valuable ipentai, acquirements is the 

 power of discriminating among things which differ in many minute points, 

 bilt whrose general similarity of appearance li-sually deiieives the e6himon 

 obtetervei" into a belief of their identity. . Entomology^ in^ this 'p6in$!<)€ view, 

 i^ a study pecyliarly adapted for yputt^. According to our e^pqi^ieoGe, it is 

 exceedingly difficult for persons arrive(J at manhood to acquire this power 

 of discrinVmation ; but, in early life^ a 'little care' on the part of the parent 

 or' teacher will riender it comparatively easy; 'Iri this study the knowledge 

 of things should.go along, with that of words. ' If names perish,'' says Lin- 

 na^li^, ' the knowledge of things perishes also ;' an4 without names how can 

 any one communicate to another the knowledge he has acquired relative 

 to aiiy particular fact, either of physiology, habit, utility, or locality ? On 

 the other hand, mere catalogue learning is as much to be rejected as the 

 loose generalisations of the despisers of classification and nomenclature. 

 To name a plant, or an insect, or a bird, or a quadruped rightly, is one step 

 towards an accurate knowlecl^je of it ; but it is not the knowledge itself. It 

 is the means, arid fiot the end, in natural history, as in every other science." 

 (p. 12.) 



