48 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 
living being in his dominion was created only for his sake 
—as they destroy the wood destined for our fences, fuel, 
and furniture—as they devour our cherries, pears, apples, 
plums, chestnuts, peas, rice, and wheat, and all our fruit— 
as they eat up the leaves of our garden, orchard, and fruit 
trees, they are, and always have been, considered as the en- 
emies of mankind. A universal war is carried on against 
them, and agricultural and horticultural journals are filled 
with recipes of different preparations, and directions for 
their destruction, like our newspapers with panaceas for 
consumption, rheumatism, and all other “ills which flesh is 
heir to.” 
But, after all, it has been the entomologist who, by his 
indefatigable researches and observations, has discovered 
their real benefit or injury, that has protected man against 
them, and them against man; it was he who looked for 
their abodes, learned their habits, character, mode of prop-- 
agation, and duration of life; it was he who discovered 
their use or their injury, and taught mankind the use which 
can be made of the beneficial ones, and the only sure means 
of preventing the baleful ravages of the noxious ones. It 
is for this purpose that the naturalist collects them, even 
the smallest insects that live, preserves them in his cabinet, 
watches them with unwearied care and perseverance, and 
acquaints his fellow-men with the results of his laborious 
researches. 
Such a philosopher was in ancient times, and, I am sorry 
to add, is even now in modern times, too apt to be consid- 
ered by the ignorant and money-loving, money-making mass 
of the people as a trifling enthusiast, too lazy to work for 
his bread; and should he sacrifice his time and his pecun- 
iary means in these benevolent and truly philanthropic la- 
bors, he is without gratitude, or even sympathy, from those 
he most benefits, living only on the hope and the conscious- 
ness that future generations will reward the ingratitude of 
