ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 177 



and growiug appreciation of the benefits of applied entomology. Thus it is — 

 noting that economic science is rapidly growing into aijpreciative favor among 

 all classes, — that it is no nnwelcome labor to comply with the request of the 

 officers of this society and consider the history, progress and needs of the 

 special branch with which I am most interested. 



You will be surprised to learn that while those animals which claim the 

 attention of the entomologist — the insects — far outnumber all other animals, 

 and that while their consideration has been so extensive that Dr. Hageu, who 

 has published the names of the authors and articles treating of them, had to 

 employ two large volumes for the purpose, and that while their injuries are so 

 patent, so extensive, and so difficult to understand and to guard against, that, 

 especially in this country of agriculture, which bids fair to become the world's 

 great granary, you may easily count on your fingers all those who have done 

 real earnest, telling work in economic entomology. The first person to engage 

 in this important work labored so nobly and so well that, though the pioneer, 

 he has scarce had his peer in this or any other country. I refer to Dr. Thaddeus 

 Wm. Harris. Says an eminent American botanist, in speaking of this great 

 man : " Of other genuine naturalists I have read, but he is the only one I ever 

 knew." It is said that Dr. Harris' father composed for Mr. Everett'.-; youthful 

 recitation the familiar lines: 



" You'd scarce expect one of my age 

 To speak in public on the stage," 



v.'hich might be thus parodied m reference to his distinguished son : ' 



" You'd not expect one in that age 

 To glean so well from nature's page." 



Dr. Harris' indefatigable labor and untiring energy will be better understood 

 when we remember that, in addition to his extensive duties as librarian of 

 Harvard College and voluntary lecturer in natural history in the same institu- 

 tion (and it is an interesting item of history, recorded by T. W. Higginson, 

 that this was the only instruction given at Harvard College in natural history 

 from 1837 to 1842), he copied the works of those authors which he must have, 

 but which he was too poor to possess. Says T. W. Higginson, one of Dr. 

 Harris' pupils, in referring to this "' immense preliminary labor:" " The saying 

 of Eivarol that ' genius is only patience,' never had a better illustration." Hig- 

 ginson thus speaks of Dr. Harris' enthusiasm, which, very like, was more due 

 to the fascinating subject-matter than to the man : " Dr. Harris was so simple 

 and eager, his tall, spare form and thin face took on such a glow and freshness, 

 he dwelt so lovingly on antennas and tarsi, and handled so fondly his little 

 insect-martyrs, that it was enough to make one love this study for life, beyond 

 all branches of natural science, and I am sure that it had that effect on me." 



What better shows the lack of respect for scientific study at that time than 

 Dr. Harris' own words, penned in 1839, in a letter congratulating Mr. Double- 

 day, a noted entomologist of England, and superintendent of the British Mu- 

 seum, " As not having to work by stealth, feeling all the time that if discovered 

 you will be exposed to the ridicule and contempt of those who can not per- 

 ceive in such pursuits any practical and useful results." 



Dr. Harris' great work, "Insects Injurious to Vegetation," first published in 



1841, and now ptiblished by Orange, Judd & Co. of New York, is truly a model, 



being thoroughly scientific, yet so clear and explicit that the most unscientific 



read it with eagerness and delight. I regard this treatise of sucii inestim- 



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