212 ' LETTER TO THE EDITon. 



' Utile' — the lyopidar with the scientific, — and he maj' be instrumental in pei*- 

 forming most excellent service to the rising youth of this country, by 

 inducing them to study a most pleasant and instructive science. It is the 

 popularization of science, the divesting her of her unlovely garb of hard, diy, 

 technicalities, that is so much required in the present day. We vv^ish to see 

 our natviral histoiy prodvxctions breathing more of the freshness of nature, 

 Zess of the closet and museum. 'Wliilst reading of birds and butterflies we 

 like to inhale the odours of flowers ; to feel the wind kiss our cheeks ; to 

 catch glimpses of fair fields and woods ; and not only to find ourselves in 

 company with animated beings, but to feel ourselves transj)orted mentally to 

 their natural haunts, and behold them as they appear in life. All this may 

 be accomplished, and still the scientific nomenclature be retained. We have 

 dwelt rather long upon this point, feeling thoroughly convinced that, if 

 Natural History is to become a favourite study amongst the masses of the 

 people, such a course must be adopted. It has been too much the custom 

 to present the history of animated creatures to the casual reader, in a form, 

 the merits of which were understood by the scientific few. The former, as a 

 matter of course, felt little interest in that which he could not understand, 

 and consequently was unable to appreciate. Now, had the same subject been 

 presented to the same reader in an attractive form, it would probably have 

 arrested his attention ; from being a mere reader, he might have become an 

 admirer, and successively an investigator, a discoverer, and finally a devoted 

 student. What is it that has made " Whites History of Selborne" commend 

 itself to the taste of thousands, whilst many a more pretenceful work has 

 been quietly consigned to the trunk-maker? How is it that the sketch of a 

 single jsarish should have created more naturalists than almost any other 

 book that was ever written ? It is its fidelity to nature — its absence from 

 technical terms — the exquisite beauty and simplicity of its descriptions — the 

 pleasing and graceful sentiments which it expresses. Such is the character 

 of the zoological works which we should like to see issued from the press in 

 the present day ; they would have the same efi'ect as " White s Selborne," in 

 awakening a love of nature in the minds of thousands, not only of our own, 

 but succeeding generations." 



Such are at least my own opinions, and by expressing them I do not wish 

 to cast the slightest stain upon Mr. Stainton's pages. He has done much 

 towards advancing the cause of Entomology, but how much more may he yet 

 do. Could he simplify his work by adding the English to the Latin names, 

 give more coloured figures of the species described, and fuller details of 

 their habits, how many students in Entomology might he be the means of 

 creating. His volume in its present state is valuable to a somewhat advanced 

 student, but scarcely so to that class for whom it is intended. Suppose, for 

 instance, a mechanic, or artizan, or even a person who has had opportunities 

 for acquuing a more classical education, wishes to know something of insects, 



