230 NOTICE. 



sometimes must come within the same category, why I suppose they must; 

 it is a sad necessity, and I do not think that the little fellow we are 

 talking of can ever have such a rule applied to him, at least, I hope 

 not. 



Pembroke Square, Kensington, January, 1857. 



NOTICE. 



A portion of the "Naturalist" will in future be specially devoted to 

 the insertion of papers and communications upon Entomology. The great 

 object of this department will be to elicit practical information upon all 

 subjects connected with the science, and the ulterior motive, the result 

 hoped for, will be not only the advancement of this branch of Zoology, 

 but that of exciting an interest in the mind, and thus awakening powers 

 of observation among those who from habit, or natural indolence of char- 

 acter, too often permit their powers of thought and reflection to lay 

 dormant. 



Natural History, or the study of Nature in its grand and sublime 

 totality, is indeed a noble pursuit. The beauty of Creation is only half 

 seen so long as we are content to look upon the surface. That combina- 

 tion of rock and mountain, hill and valley, foliage and water, which 

 constitutes fine scenery, is grateful to our feelings, and produces the most 

 pleasing and varied sensations in the mind. And if, then, in the hack- 

 neyed but beautiful phrase, we are led "from Nature up to Nature's 

 God," how much more is such a truth realized when we dive into the 

 hidden mysteries of organized beings, and see there a combination of parts 

 — a harmony — a Design so exquisite, so beautiful, so perfect, that the 

 dullest mind must be filled with admiration and awe. 



Of this Nature, or Natural History, Entomology teaches us an important 

 part. The structure, the habits, whether good or bad — useful or hurtful 

 — the transformations and the classification and arrangement of all Insects 

 — the study of these things is Entomology. 



In this country of Great Britain and Ireland, such a pursuit is mostly 

 limited to the insects of our own fauna. Now this limited sphere of study, 

 while it gives great interest to our insular collections, is rather obstructive 

 than otherwise to the investigation of those higher branches of the science 

 by which the affinities and consequent classification of insects is determined. 

 There are in fact two classes of votaries who worship at the Entomological 

 shrine. — 



First — Those who collect and arrange according to the classification of 

 others, who study the habits, changes, food-plants, and localities of larvae, 

 the time of appearance, the varieties, and the diurnal or nocturnal move- 



