132 Analytical Notices of Books, 



the sake of decency. A curious instance of the zeal with which 

 occasions for inculcating lessons of piety and morality has been 

 sought after here occurs, in the hints given for the guidance of 

 young ladies on subjects of which they should scarcely be sus- 

 pected to have even dreamed, and in a language too which few 

 of them can understand. So slight a slip of the pen needs how- 

 ever no apology in the kindly and good-hearted feelings which 

 evidently dictated it. 



Confessedly imperfect as is the preceding sketch of this ar- 

 ranged Encyclopaedia of entomological knowledge, we feel less 

 hesitation in presenting it to our readers, since we are convinced 

 that the perusal of the volumes themselves will be universally 

 sought after. It would be almost superfluous to add, that they 

 will at once gratify and instruct every admirer of that extensive 

 and interesting department of Zoology of which they treat. The 

 task undertaken by the learned authors was most arduous, and 

 one from which men of less energetic minds must have shrunk in 

 despair. To maintain and even to increase by the publication of 

 a work almost essentially popular, the high scientific characters 

 which they had previously obtained, required a fortunate com- 

 bination of talents of no ordinary description. To have succeeded 

 in such an undertaking to the extent which has been effected 

 by them, an extent probably greater than their most sanguine 

 hopes could have anticipated, affords the most convincing proof 

 of the admirable nature of the plan pursued by them ; a plan, 

 be it added, formed upon no preceding model, but meriting ffs a 

 new invention, to be held forth to the iinitation of others. By 

 their excellent Introduction more general attention has been at- 

 tracted within a few years to the study of Entomology than 

 would have been produced in centuries by a repetition of those 

 dry technicalities which so frequently check the ardour of the 

 beginner, and occasionally disgust him at the very threshold of 

 the science. The happy union of amusement with instruction 

 obviates this difficulty : the learner is interested in the wonders 

 displayed before him, he pursues the study with vigour, and 

 while endeavouring to verify by experiment the statements of his 

 authors, becomes himself acquainted with new facts ; these he 



