174 ENTOMOLOGY. 



dollars. It is estimated that five thousand dollars' worth 

 of silk is annually sold in one County, (Orange County) 

 in New York ; and the whole sale of this article in 

 that State, is calculated at fifteen thousand dollars. 

 When it is consideied that the greater part of the 

 labor may be accomplished by females and children, 

 and that it is not only a healthful exercise, but an agree- 

 able amusement, it will be thought not a little surprising, 

 that we are so willing and ready to import silk from 

 abroad. 



A GENERAL VIEW OP THE INJURIES AND BENEFITS PRO- 

 DUCED BY EACH ORDER OP INSECTS. 



But perhaps many might be persuaded to engage in 

 the study of entomology, if the benefits derived from, 

 and the injuries produced by each order of insects, were 

 exhibited in a general manner, that they might be readily 

 compared. 



The first order is called Coleoptera, from the Greek 

 words koleos, a sheath and pier on, a wing referring to 

 the strong elytra or external wings, which protect the 

 true wings. Among the genera of this order which are 

 most common, are the beetle, stag-beetle, carrion-bug, 

 weevil, lady-bird, blistering-fly, water-beetle, &c, &c. 

 From the ravages of the first order of insects, man 

 suffers extremely: although our persons are incom- 

 moded as little perhaps by the animals belonging to 

 this order, as either of the other orders, still the ob- 

 jects by which we are surrounded, those necessary to 

 our subsistence, as well as articles of luxury and ease, are 

 all subject to their depredations. 



But if the many are not useful, the few are of infinite 

 value. Decomposing substances, while they are removed 

 from our view, are carried by these animals |into the 

 earth, and thereby tend to enrich vegetation. Noxious 

 generlt are held in detestation by others, which offer us 

 no molestation, while some species afford subsistence to 

 others. Thus the Aphides, the small flies, or (as they 

 are generally called) lice, so common upon many of our 

 plants, are in some seasons devoured in immense quanti- 

 ties by our beautiful lady-birds ; and the females of the 

 cockchaffer, one of the most infurious of the tribe to the 



