The Harmas 



the dead insect, steeped in alcohol, but of the 

 living insect; a laboratory having for its object 

 the instinct, the habits, the manner of living, 

 the work, the struggles, the propagation of 

 that little world, with which agriculture and 

 philosophy have most seriously to reckon? 



To know thoroughly the history of the de- 

 stroyer of our vines might perhaps be more im- 

 portant than to know how this or that nerve- 

 fibre of a Cirriped^ ends; to establish by exper- 

 iment the line of demarcation between in- 

 tellect and instinct; to prove, by comparing 

 facts in the zoological progression, whether 

 human reason be an irreducible faculty or not: 

 all this ought surely to take precedence of the 

 number of joints in a Crustacean's antenna. 

 These enormous questions would need an army 

 of workers; and we have not one. The fash- 

 ion is all for the Mollusc and the Zoophytes.^ 

 The depths of the sea are explored with many 

 drag-nets; the soil which we tread is consistent- 

 ly disregarded. While waiting for the fashion 

 to change, I open my harmas laboratory of 

 living entomology; and this laboratory shall 

 not cost the ratepayers one farthing. 



'Cirripeds are sea-animals with hair-like legs, includ- 

 ing the Barnacles and Acorn-shells. — Translator's Note. 



"Zoophytes are plant-like sea-animals, including Star- 

 fishes, Jelly-fishes, Sea-anemones and Sponges. — Trans- 

 iOtor's Note. 



27 



