412 SKETCHES OF INSECTS, &C. 



he sees before his view; but a stronger impulse, I infer, must 

 lead the butterfly to leave the flowers for the nettles ; the bee to 

 construct her cells with laborious care; and the gnats and other 

 insects which float in air to lay their es^gs in that water which would 

 "be fatal to their own existence. This faculty I presume to be 

 memory, or a near approximation to it, and if we admit that the 

 insect in its perfect state, remembers its former adventures, it 

 must necessarily infer that its own progeny will have to pass 

 through the same vicissitudes. 



I had intended to enter upon a review of the various systems 

 of Entomology proposed by learned investigators, descanting upon 

 their several merits, and recommending those best adapted to 

 practical purposes ; it is perhaps fortunate for me that I have not 

 now either time or space for the purpose — since systematists 

 rarely forgive any attack upon their favourite structures. — I 

 therefore recommend the student, to think, read, judge, and act 

 for himself, taking the benefit of whatever systems he may find, 

 and concoct a new one for himself if he should think such a 

 project advisable. It will be well, if he do build a hive, that no 

 rude bear overturns it for him. 



And now, is it possible, that after flying about like an insect 

 among meteors in the air, and amid forests and flowers; — that 

 my own flight must at last cease ? Yes, sad to say, I must be now 

 pinned down and consigned to the cabinet. — Well, then, as I 

 can buzz on easy wing no more, permit me, fair readers of the 

 Analyst, for such there are, to droop my antennae before you in 

 token of a last adieu. For your bright eyes I exist no longer — 

 if we do meet again it will be on other ground — in other climes. 

 We have met among fragrant flowers — we have held converse 

 beneath the broad canopy of aged trees, who could have told us 

 of others who had sought that sweetly solemn shade before us, and 

 dreamed as we have dreamed. All is over — we must dream no 

 more. We have gazed together upon the midnight sky — nought 

 disturbed us but the breeze rustling the topmost boughs of the 

 elms — as we gazed upon meteors flashing silently in the deep 

 blue zenith, no sound met our listening ears — for the Nightin- 

 gale had flown southward, and the watch-dog slept. Man and all 

 his busy schemes lay for a moment in abeyance — if then but for 

 a moment. Nature charmed us when her voice awoke not, 

 let us seek her shrine — we may part for ever here — let us again 

 meet there and mingle our orisons. To you, grave and learned 

 votaries of science, if such have glanced over my remarks, pardon 

 my aberrations — excuse those fanciful allusions, which I have 

 perhaps indulged in with too unrestrained a license. In this 

 respect I must take my own course, and wander like the brook — 

 to sleep beneath the hanging wood, or dash careless in the rocky 

 rapids. I shall at last, perhaps, with steadier aim approach with 

 broader waters the ocean where all our efforts terminate. If so, 

 we shall meet again — perhaps graver and sadder, to con over our 

 mutual labours — if not, why then " this parting was well made." 



