IV i PREFACE. 



but become observers of nature, a great many more additions 

 to our Fauna would soon be made, and something like an 

 adequate knowledge of our natural productions would be 

 gained. I maintain that none have it so well in their power 

 to become acquainted with the works of nature, and to add to 

 our knowledge in that respect, as they have, if they but 

 would ; and yet they are about as ignorant on the subject, if 

 not more so, than those whose occupations confine them in 

 the house from morning till evening, with scarce a ray of 

 sunshine to cheer them as they ply their wearisome toil, and 

 who can only enjoy the beauties and sweets of Nature by 

 snatches, stealing, as it were, an hour now and then from 

 their scanty store to breathe the refreshing air of heaven, and 

 hold communion with the works of the Creator. And why ? 

 Why just because they will not. They, like many more, go 

 about in, what may be termed, a state of daylight somnam- 

 bulism — that is, with eyes and ears both open, and yet they 

 neither see nor hear any of these things. " 



But, however desirable it may be to enlist the unlearned 

 as observers, it is not necessary to write down to the level of 

 their ignorance ; yet this is what many contend should be 

 done, and we are gravely told that we ought to give all the 

 insects English names, and that this would have the effect 

 of making the Annual more generally interesting. 



But what is a name? A name is that appellation by 

 which a thing is known, but by what English appellation is 

 Phlogophora empyrea known ? It bears no English name 

 at present, and, consequently, is not yet known by any. But 

 suppose we were to give it a name : then each person who 

 learns its new English name has to learn its English name 



