Introduction. vii 



foreigner himself to give our comments without prefixing 

 his text to them. The importance too, which the learned 

 editors of the Journal containing the original memoir, 

 attach to M. Odier's experiments, and the conclusion he 

 draws from them, is an additional motive with us to trans- 

 late it verbatim ; and independently of that consideration, 

 although we differ from him as to the real nature of the ca- 

 rapace of insects, &c. he has given us in other respects, 

 much new and curious information concerning it. 



We shall add but little more. To insist on the import- 

 ance of Natural History were to waste our own and our 

 reader's time in proving what no rational being ever doubted. 

 The contemplation of the works of the creation, necessarily 

 leads the mind to that of the Creator himself — and the more 

 intimate our acquaintance with the former, the deeper and 

 more devoted will be our adoration of the great author of all 

 things ! " The undevout astronomer is mad* ;" not more so 

 than the undevout naturalist. The order, harmony, and gra- 

 dations which the one traces in the planetary system, the other 

 finds in the inhabitants of that part of it, where it has pleased 

 his Creator to appoint his station. He sees the beautiful con- 

 nection that subsists throughout the whole scheme of ani- 

 mated nature. He traces, from the bulk and strength of the 

 massive elephant to the almost invisible structure of the 

 minutest insect, a mutual dependency, that convinces him 

 nothing is made in vain. He feels too, that at the head of 

 all this system of order and beauty, pre-eminent in the do- 

 minion of his reason, stands Man. He sees himself the 

 favoured creature of his Creator, and the finest energies of 

 his soul are roused to gratitude and devotion. 



* Young. 



