ARTICLES OR FRAGMENTS, 



HITHERTO OBSCURE OR INACCESSIBLE, REPRINTED FROM 



THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. 



[New England Farmer, Vol. VII, No. xii, pp. 90, 91, Oct. 10, 1828.] 

 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENTOMOLOGY*.^ NO. I. 



An interest in the science of entomology appears to be awakened among 

 us, and we are gradually becoming sensible of the utility of the pursuit. 

 To mention nothing more, the frequent inquiries, made in public journals, 

 respecting the economy and metamorphoses of insects, sufficiently indicate 

 a desire for further information. There may be some who object to the 

 study of insects on account of their apparent unimportance and insignifi- 

 cance. These may be assured that it is a never failing source of the most 

 rational enjoyment^ and that there is as much to be discovered and to 

 astonish in magnifying an insect as a star. The powerful influence which 

 insects are permitted to exert over our interests, compel us to notice them; 

 and their Avonderful structure, metamorphoses, and habits display the wis- 

 dom and protecting power of their Creator. 



Hitherto our insects have been better known to naturalists across the 

 Atlantic, than to ourselves. We have been too busy, too idle, of too 

 ignorant to give the public an account of these numerous inhabitants of 

 this new world. With here and there a solitary exception, Mr. Say is the 



1 [The text has been strictly adhered to, excepting where subsequently corrected by 

 Dr. Harris, in the same " Contributions," or in mss. in his own copy of the New Eng- 

 land Farmer.] 



OCCAS. PAPERS B. S. N. H. — I. 22 



