IV 



see persons, skilled in natural history, receiving encouragements and reward from men of 

 rank and property, according to their respective abilities. Some are encouraged to pursue 

 their studies in foreign parts, and investigate the secrets of nature among the trees and 

 plants ; others are employed in discovering countries, and searching the shores of coasts, 

 hitherto unknown, for subjects that will afford either profit or speculative pleasure ; while 

 the artist at home is not neglected and abandoned, but meets the reward his merit 

 entitles him to. 



Natural history has, certainly, less reason to court the favour of mankind than many 

 other branches of knowlege ; as the pursuit of it, either as a science or amusement, is so 

 replete with pleasure, that it is hardly possible to refuse it our approbation and encourage- 

 ment, so soon as we give ourselves the least time to enquire into its merits ; and we are 

 often stimulated to pursue it from the appearance of that inexhaustible store of entertain- 

 ment it is sure to afford. It is therefore less to be wondered at that publications on these 

 subjects are more numerous than formerly ; as the desire of communicating knowledge 

 and happiness is irresistible, and men, for their own sakes, will be induced to follow the 

 tracks, where the enjoyment of unallayed pleasure lies within their grasp. 



I shall not dwell any longer on this part of the subject, but inform the reader, that 

 the same plan, of giving just and accurate figui'es, that was followed in the first volume, is 

 continued in this. The utmost care and nicety has been observed, both in the outlines 

 and engraving. Nothing is strained or carried beyond the bounds nature has set ; and 

 whoever will compare the engravings with the originals, I flatter myself will allow, that 

 nothing is borrowed from fancy, or any colour given to an insect that does not really exist 

 in the subject intended to be represented. 



It is true, the want of those remarks and observations on their natural history, similar 

 to those inserted in my first volume, is a circumstance I have great reason to lament. 

 I mentioned my opinion of the cause in my former address, in which I have since been 

 confirmed by repeated proofs ; and notwithstanding the great labour and trouble I have 

 been at, not only in procuring the subjects of the present volume, but in endeavouring also 

 to get the natural history of some of the most extraordinary of them, I have not been able 

 to obtain one single piece of information proper to be laid before the public. 



It is to little or no purpose to make further enquiry into the reasons of this want of 

 curiosity, among all ranks of people, situated in distant climates, more than I have already 

 done. I find it is so ; and whether it proceeds from an ill-judged pride, in thinking such 

 minute animals below their notice, or whether it arises from that languor of mind, as well 

 as of body, that generally prevails in warm climates, is a matter of no consequence to 

 mankind : the world is not benefited by their situations, and we must be content to remain 

 in our present ignorance, till Providence shall think proper to give us a second Swammer- 

 dam, or Reaumur, &c. and place him in a distant part of the globe, for the advantage of 

 the human race. 



