INTRODUCTION. 9 



IS of great importance to man, merely with relation to 

 his own comfort and security. The injuries which they 

 inflict upon us are extensive and complicated ; and the 

 remedies which we attempt, by the destruction of 

 those creatures, both insects, birds, and quadrupeds, 

 who keep the ravagers in check, are generally ag- 

 gravations of the evil, because they are directed by 

 an ignorance of the economy of nature. The little 

 knowledge which we have of the model by which 

 insects may be impeded in their destruction of much 

 that is valuable to us, has probably proceeded from 

 our contempt of their individual insignificance. The 

 security of property has ceased to be endangered by 

 quadrupeds of prey, and yet our gardens are ravaged 

 by aphides and caterpillars. It is somewhat startling 

 to affirm that the condition of the human race is 

 seriously injured by these petty annoyances; but it 

 is perfectly true that the art and industry of man have 

 not yet been able to overcome the collective force, 

 the individual perseverance, and the complicated 

 machinery of destruction which insects employ. A 

 small ant, according to a most careful and philo- 

 sophical observer, opposes almost invincible obstacles 

 to the progress of civilization in many parts of the 

 equinoctial zone. These animals devour paper and 

 parchment; they destroy every book and manu- 

 script. Many provinces of Spanish America can- 

 not, in consequence, shew a written document of a 

 hundred years' existence. ^' What developement," he 

 adds, " can the civilization of a people assume, if 

 there be nothing to connect the present with the 

 past — if the depositories of human knowledge must 

 be constantly renewed — if the monuments of genius 

 and wisdom cannot be transmitted to posterity ?"* 

 Again, there are beetles which deposit their larvae 



* Humboldt, Voyage, lib. vii., ch. 20, 



