PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 359 



deniable that any person of moderate penetration, 

 though altogether unacquainted with what is called 

 natural history, who will take the trouble to observe 

 particular facts, and endeavour to trace them to their 

 causes, has every chance to be successful in adding 

 to his own knowledge, and frequently in making dis- 

 coveries of what was previously unknown. We 

 adverted in a former volume to the spider, which 

 M. Pelissan, while a prisoner in the Bastille, tamed 

 by means of music ;* and in another place we quoted 

 some observations on hunting-spiders, by the cele- 

 brated Evelyn, both of which are strong proofs of 

 our position, and show that though books are often 

 of high value to guide us in our observations, they 

 are by no means indispensable to the study of nature, 

 inasmuch as the varied scene of creation itself forms 

 an inexhaustible book, which ' even he who runneth 

 may read.' It shall be our endeavour, therefore, in 

 what we shall now add, to point out a iew particulars 

 by way of assisting young naturalists to read the book 

 of nature with the most advantage. It will be of the 

 utmost importance, in the study here recommended, 

 to i)'ear in mind that an insect can never be found 

 in any situation, nor make any movement, without 

 some motive, originating in the instinct imparted 

 to it by Providence. This principle alone, when il is 

 made the basis of inquiry into such motives or in- 

 stincts, will be found productive of many interesting 

 discoveries, which, without it, might never be made. 

 With this, indeed, exclusively in view, during an ex- 

 cursion, and with a little attention and perseverance, 

 every walk — nay, every step — may lead to delight- 

 ful and interesting knowledge. 



In accordance with these views, we advise the 

 young naturalist to watch as far as possible the pro- 

 gress of every insect which he may meet with, from 



* See Antoine, Animaux Celebres, i, 24, 



