OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 5f) 



sire you to recollect that, for a mere personal indul- 

 gence, you cause the death of an infinitely greater 

 number of animals, than all the entomologists in the 

 world destroy for the promotion of science. 



To these considerations, which 1 have no doubt you 

 v\ ill think conclusive as to the unreasonableness and 

 inconsistency of the objections made against the study 

 of Entomology on the score of cruelty, I sliall only add 

 that I do not intend them as any apology for other than 

 the most speedy and least painful modes of destroying 

 insects ; and these will be pointed out to you in a sub- 

 sequent letter. Every degree of unnecessary pain be- 

 comes cruelty, which I need not assure you I abhor; 

 and from my own observations, however ruthlessly the 

 entomologist may seem to devote the few specimens 

 wanted for scientific purposes to destruction, no one in 

 ordinary circiunstances is less prodigal of insect life. 

 For my own part, I question whether the drowning indi- 

 viduals, Avhich I have saved fiom destruction, would 

 not far out-number all that I ever sacrificed to science. 



My next letter will be devoted to the metamorphoses 

 of insects, a subject on which some previous expla- 

 nation is necessary to enable you to understand those 

 distinctions between their diiferent states, which will 

 be perpetually alluded to in the course of our corre- 

 spondence : and having thus cleared the way, I shall 

 afterwards proceed to the consideration of the injuries 

 and benefits of which insects are the cause. 



I am, &c. 



