INSECTS AT HOME. 



CHAPTER I. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



f pHERE is scarcely a branch of science, however interestinjj, 

 X it may be, which does not at iirst repel the intending student 

 by the array of strange words with which the treasures of know- 

 ledge are surrounded. This is especially the case in Botanv 

 and Zoology, which contain, in addition to the usual technical 

 language, vast numbers of names belonging to various plants 

 or animals, each name consisting of two words, one denoting 

 the genus and the other the species. 



That many have been deterred from pm'suing a study hedged 

 about with such difficulties is not a matter of wonder, and it 

 is much to be regretted that writers on science too often 

 increase rather than lessen the difficulties by their purely 

 technical mode of handling the subject. The real cause of the 

 general repugnance to science is to be found in the mode of 

 writing adopted by too many scientific wi'iters, who forget the 

 first principles of instructive writing, and do not identify 

 themselves with the miuds of those whom they are endeavour- 

 ing to teach. 



The study of Entomology, or the knowledge of insects, has 

 greatly suffered from this cause. It is one of the most fas- 

 cinating of pursuits. It takes its votaries into the treasure- 

 houses of Nature, and explains some of the wonderful series of 

 links which form the great chain of creation. It lays open 



B 



