2 INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



Mankind in general, not excepting even philosophers, 

 are prone to magnify, often beyond its just merit, the 

 science or pursuit to which they have addicted them- 

 selves, and to depreciate any that seems to stand in com- 

 petition with their favourite : like the redoubted cham- 

 pions of romance, each thinks himself bound to take the 

 field against every one that will not subscribe to the 

 peerless beauty and accomplishments of his own Dul- 

 cinea. In such conflict for pre-eminence I know no sci- 

 ence that, in this country, has come off worse than En- 

 tomology : her champions hitherto have been so few, and 

 their efforts so unavailing, that all her rival sisters have 

 been exalted above her : and I believe there is scarcely 

 any branch of Natural History that has had fewer Bri- 

 tish admirers. While Botany boasts of myriads, she, 

 though not her inferior either in beauty, symmetry, or 

 grace, has received the homage of a very slender train 

 indeed. Since therefore the merits of Entomology have 

 been so little acknowledged, you will not deem it invi- 

 dious if I advocate the cause of this distressed damsel, 

 and endeavour to effect her restoration to her just rights, 

 privileges, and rank. 



Things that are universally obvious and easy of exa- 

 mination, as they are the first that fall under our notice, 

 so are they also most commonly those which we first feel 

 an inclination to study ; while, on the contrary, things 

 that must be sought for in order to be seen, and which 

 when sought for avoid the approach and inquiring eye 

 of man, are often the last to which he directs his atten- 

 tion. The vegetable kingdom stands in the former pre- 

 dicament. Flora with a liberal hand has scattered around 

 us her charming productions ; they every where meet 



