53 



insect had become notorious in America, an entomolo- 

 gist could have been found to trace out its metamor- 

 phoses and the brief duration of its existence, this 

 panic and expense would have been avoided. So 

 true is it, that a thorough knowledge of insects will 

 serve to dissipate many unnecessary alarms, or will 

 point out when and how preventive means may most 

 effectually be adopted. One of our greatest philoso- 

 phers, yea, one of the greatest that modern ages has 

 produced, Franklin, did not deem it beneath his dignity 

 to descend from the region of the clouds and investi- 

 gate the transformations of a musquito : nor were his 

 investigations without a useful result ; for, by directing 

 us to cover our rain-water hogsheads and cisterns, he 

 taught us how to put a stop to the multiphcation of 

 these insects around our dwelhngs. But the most 

 remarkable triumph of science over the powers of 

 insects was that achieved by Linnaeus. Being em- 

 ployed by the king of Sweden to discover the cause 

 of the rapid decay of the timber in the dock-yards, he 

 traced it to the operations of insects ; and having 

 ascertained the period of their metamorphoses, he 

 directed the timber to be immersed in water during 

 the time that the insects deposited their eggs, and 

 thus secured it against further depredation. 



Horticulture and Agriculture have already derived 

 some benefit from Entomology ; and more is to be 

 expected, when a larger number of individuals shall 

 be found to undertake the necessary investigations. 

 Guided by a knowledge of the habits, changes, and 

 period of existence of each noxious insect, the culti- 

 vator will find the way for successful experiment 



