PREFACE. Vv 
‘also add, the difficulty of procuring the many splen- 
did and costly works of European authors—our 
booksellers being unwilling to incur the risk of im- 
porting them unless expressly ordered. Attributa- 
ble to these causes is the absence of knowledge of 
this science and of taste for its cultivation. In- 
deed there are not wanting among the uninformed, 
individuals who harbour the almost impious opi- 
nion that insects are despicable because they are 
minute, and that the study of them is little better 
than contemptible trifling, and prodigality of time. 
This opinion is too unphilosophical to deserve no- 
tice, or serious reply; it is impious, inasmuch as it 
assumes that a portion of the labours of the Crea- 
tor, which we are informed he contemplated with 
pleasure, and in his wisdom pronounced good, are 
altogether futile and of a nature too trifling for the 
serious attention of man. 
Much might be said in opposition to this absurd 
notion, the offspring of ignorance, and enough has 
been said by numerous authors of the first authori- 
ty, to establish the claims of these minute, but most 
formidable of all animals to an exalted rank in our 
respect and consideration. 
