D9 OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. ' 



unite itself to the other sex*. These facts, out of hun- 

 dreds that might be adduced, are surely sufficient to 

 prove that insects do not experience the same acute 

 sensations of pain \v ith the higher orders of animals, 

 which Providence has endowed with more ample means 

 of avoiding- them : and since they were to be exposed 

 so universally to attack and injury, this is a most mer- 

 ciful provision in their favour ; for, were it otherwise, 

 considering the wounds, and dismemberments, and lin- 

 gering deaths that insects often suffer, what a vast in- 

 crease would there be of the general sum of pain and 

 misery ! You will now, I think, allow that the most 

 humane person need not hesitate a moment, whether 

 he shall devote himself to the study of Entomology, on 

 account of any cruelty attached to the pursuit. 



But if some morbid sentimentalist should still ex- 

 claim, " Oh ! but I cannot persuade myself even for 

 scientific purposes to inflict the slightest degree of pain 

 upon the most insensible of creatures — " Pray, sir 

 or madam, I would ask, should your green-house be 

 infested by Aphides, or your grapery by the semiani- 

 mate Coccus, would this extreme of tenderness induce 

 you to restrict your gardener from destroying them ? 

 Are you willing to deny yourself these unnecessary 

 gratifications, and to resign your favourite flowers and 

 fruit at the call of your fine feelings? Or will you give 

 up the shrimps^ which by their relish enable you to 

 play a better part with your bread and butter at break- 

 fast, and thus, instead of adding to it, contribute to di- 

 minish the quantity of food ? If not, I shall only de- 



^ Dr. Smith's Tour, i. 1G2. Jottrn. dt Phys. xxv. 336. 



