48 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



beasts ; . and enthusiastic Entomologists have often paid 

 very considerable sums of money for them. 



It is not wonderful, then, that these beautiful orna- 

 ments of Creation have so excited the admiration of 

 scientific men as to lead to a complete mania for collect- 

 ing and preserving them; — as actually to make the 

 observation of Insects, and the study of their nature 

 and use, the ruling passion of their lives. The immortal 

 Eeaumure established on his estate, houses, or rather 

 nurseries, for Insects, and paid servants for attending 

 to them, he himself watching them night and day, in 

 order to become perfectly acquainted with their manner 

 of living. His "Memoires des Insectes," published in 

 Paris, IT 34, abound with the most curious and interest- 

 ing observations. 



General Count Dejeau, Aide-de-camp to Napoleon 

 Bonaparte, was so anxious to increase the number of 

 specimens in his entomological cabinet, that he even 

 availed himself of his military campaigns for this pur- 

 pose, and was continually occupied in collecting Insects, 

 and fastening them with pins on the outside of his hat, 

 which was always covered with them. The Emperor, 

 as well as the whole army, were accustomed to see 

 General Dejeau's head thus singularly ornamented even 

 when in battle. But the departed spirits of those 

 murdered Insects once had their revenge on him; 

 for, in the battle of Wagram, in ISO'.*, and while he 



