56 On the Study of Entomology. 
are hardly less numerous than the injuries. Honey, silk, cochineal, 
ale, and blisters, are familiar examples of direct benefits, The 
indirect are less easily recognised, but not the less substantial. Like 
all classes of the animal kingdom, insects are divisible into the 
devourers and the devoured. The voracious hordes that live at the 
expense of human industry are themselves the victims of a host of 
carnivorous foes and parasites, controlling their increase, and miti- 
gating their ravages. An inestimable amount of benefit is received 
by mankind from this source. The intricate adjustments which 
thus determine the balance of Nature, are largely dependent upon 
insects. And all interference on our part, by extermination or 
otherwise, if conducted without knowledge, is just as likely to do 
harm as good. Anyone can see that the destruction of spiders 
means the increase of flies: and that when a farmer ignorantly sets 
traps for moles, the wire-worms are likely to enjoy peace and plenty. 
There was a time when the Kentish hop-growers, seeing millions 
of lady-birds on their hops, waged war upon them, under the idea 
that they were the cause of the hop-blight. The teachings of ento- 
mology have long since shewn them that they were killing their best 
friends; that the Coccinella is carnivorous, and preys upon the Aphis, 
the real source of mischief. But I am digressing, though perhaps 
not unreasonably, inasmuch as having mentioned the usefulness of 
entomology, I was bound to shew some warrant for the assumption. 
With all the subjects above mentioned, and an infinity of collateral 
matters, the naturalist must be conversant; keeping steadily in 
view the advancement and diffusion of knowledge, for the benefit 
of mankind. It is for this that he investigates and registers the 
phenomena of the world, seeking general principles from the 
structure, economy, and mutual relations of living creatures, which 
he applies to the elucidation of the obscure problems of biology and 
the intricacies of the great scheme of Nature. The character of 
the man who is fitted for such pursuits isno common one. He 
must be humble and patient, free from the vulgarity of prejudice, 
and tolerant of the prejudices of others; reverent, but not super- 
stitious; indefatigable in his work, knowing that success means an 
immense capacity for details; not devoted to the idol of beauty, 
o® Cy ek sans eet 
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el: Sect 
