42 QBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 



ber, probably the majority, to whom the objection will 

 strictly apply. Now 1 contend, and shall next endea- 

 vour to prove, that entomologists of this description 

 are devoting- their time to a most valuable end ; and are 

 conferring- upon society a benefit incalculably greater 

 than that derived from the labours of many of those 

 who assume the privilege of despising their pursuit. 



Even in favour of the mere butterfly-hunter — he who 

 has no higher aim than that of collecting a picture of 

 Lepidoplera, and is attached to insects solely by their 

 beauty or singularity, it would not be difficult to say 

 much. Can it be necessary to declaim on the superi- 

 ority of a people amongst whom intellectual pleasures, 

 however trifling, are preferred to mere animal gratifi- 

 cations ? Is it a thing to be lamented that some of the 

 Spitalfields weavers occupy their leisure hours in 

 searching for the Adonis butterfly, and others of the 

 more splendid Lepidoptera^^ instead of spending them 

 in playing at skittles or in an alehouse ? Or is there in 

 truth any thing more to be wished than that the cutlers 

 of Sheffield were accustomed thus to employ their Saint 

 Mondai/s^ and to recreate themselves after a hard day's 

 work, by breathing the pure air of their surrounding- 

 hills, while in search of this " untaxed and undisputed 

 game'*;" and that more of the Norwich weavers were 



* Ilaworth Lephl. BHl. 'U.bl. 



'' Oft have I smiled the hapjiy pride to see 

 Of hiimhlc tradesmen in their evening glee, 

 AVhcn of some pleasing faneied good possest, 

 Each grew alert, was busy and w:'s blest: 

 Whether the call-bird yield the hour's delight. 

 Or magnified in microscope the mite; 

 Or whether tumblers, croppers, carriers seize 

 The gentle mind, they rule it and they please. 



