To George B. Emerson, Esq., 



Chairman of the Commissioners 



On the Zoological and Botanical Survey 

 of Massachusetts. 

 Dear Sir, 



Upon forwarding to me my commission, in the year 1837, you 

 were pleased to request me to prepare a Report on the Insects of 

 Massachusetts. 



The magnitude of the task, and various other motives deterred me 

 from attempting to describe all the insects which might have been 

 discovered by a careful and thorough survey of the whole State. A 

 work of this kind, — much as it might promote the cause of science, 

 if well done, — could not be expected to prove either interesting or 

 particularly useful to the great body of the people. Some idea of the 

 extent of such an undertaking may be formed from an examination of 

 the Catalogues of the Insects of Massachusetts, drawn up by me for 

 the first and second editions of Professor Hitchcock's " Report on the 

 Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology," of this State. 



Believing that agriculture and horticulture, when aided by science, 

 tend greatly to improve the condition of any people, and that these 

 pursuits form the basis of our prosperity, and are the safeguards of 

 our liberty and independence, I have felt it my duty, in treating the 

 subject assigned to me, to endeavour to make it useful and acceptable 

 to those persons whose honorable employment is the cultivation of 

 the soil. 



Some knowledge of the classification of insects and of the scien- 

 tific details of entomology seems to be necessary to the farmer, to 

 enable him to distinguish his friends from his enemies of the insect 

 race. He ought to be acquainted with the transformations and habits 

 of the latter, in all their states, so that he may know how and when 

 most successfully to employ the means for preventing their ravages. 

 This kind of knowledge will often guide him in the selection of the 

 proper remedies, and may prevent him from falling into many mis- 

 takes. Not only the farmer, however, but those who are engaged in 

 other employments, would find some profit and pleasure in the study 



