88 MAY. 



at all that which he values so highly, and slightingly 

 inquires, "What is the use of it?" Let not the tyro, 

 be discouraged by the wet blanket thus thrown upon 

 his pleasure ; why should his spirits be damped at the 

 unceremonious rebuff? Of w T hat use is it for a man to 

 ornament his parlour walls with choice paintings at 

 extravagant prices, or his conservatory with beautiful 

 exotics ? The answer will probably be, because they 

 refine the taste and elevate the mind. True ! And will 

 not the study of Nature's works, the investigation of 

 the beautiful, and the delight engendered by it, elevate 

 the mind, whether the object be a beautiful painting, 

 or a beautiful insect coloured by the hand of the great 

 Master of colour— God Himself? Most certainly it 

 will; and more than that, the study of Nature will 

 produce effects upon a well constituted mind that all 

 the paintings, statuary and works of men's hands will 

 never do. It will — 



"Lead from Nature up to Nature's God." 



And if the tyro is in possession of a microscope, the 

 pleasures derivable from the study of Entomology Mill 

 be increased a thousandfold. 



I will finish this chapter by an extract from the 

 " Exordium " of C. R. Goring, M.D., in the " Micro- 

 scopic Illustrations," by Dr. Goring and Mr. Prit- 

 chard, in order that the tyro may be the less likely to 

 have his ardour damped by well-meaning but mistaken 

 friends : he says — 



" I shall conclude this introduction by a vindication 

 of microscopic science and its votaries from the as- 

 persions that have been cast upon them by the incon- 



