ENTOMOLOGY. 169 



to suffer, so is he restrained from much useless labor, and 

 no little voluntary suffering. He neither amuses us by 

 burying in the earth, with the intention of destroying 

 them, immense quantities of caterpillars which spend a 

 part of their lives there ; nor by cutting down valuable' 

 trees, to spare others, because the insects which inhabit 

 both, appear to him as belonging to the same species. He 

 is enabled also to discover that some of our most common 

 insects are of much value to him, in checking the increase 

 of others, which would be injurious to his crgps. An 

 'acquaintance with this subject will also remove many er- 

 roneous ideas which had been formed respecting the 

 characters of these individuals, and the purposes for 

 which they were created. The ticking of the death- 

 watch will no longer be listened to with silent shuddering ; 

 nor will the protuberance on the oak leaf be examined 

 with fearful forebodings, but the foetal larva will be 

 allowed quietly to go on to perfection, whether it foretels 

 war, pestilence, or famine ; and the minutest and most 

 neglected insect, when the purposes of its existence are 

 well known, will prove how injurious oftentimes are pre- 

 conceived opinions. 



IMMEDIATE ADVANTAGES DEUIVED FROM INSECTS. 



Another reason should be dwelt upon. The direct benefits 

 derived from the individuals belonging to this class, should 

 claim for them a greater share of attention. Well do 1 know, 

 that all other arguments which can be offered, are slight in 

 comparison with this. We are ever ready to engage in a 

 pursuit, when it affords a prospect of remuneration, which 

 before hardly claimed a thought; and often become from 

 this cause zealous enthusiasts, where previously we had 

 studiously avoided engaging our feelings. And here, 

 I would refer particularly to the immense profits which 

 may be received from insects, as articles of commerce. 

 None, save those who have particularly attended to this 

 subject, can for a moment conceive the extent of this 

 traffic. Not only are various species used in the arts, 

 but in some countries as articles of food, many have an 

 extensive circulation. A few examples only shall be of- 

 fered at the present time. To entomology must we look 

 for several of our most beautiful and valuable dyes. A 



