48 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



living being in his dominion was created only for bis sake 

 as they destroy the wood destined for our fences, fuel, 

 and furniture as they devour our cherries, pears, apples, 

 plums, chestnuts, peas, rice, and wheat, and all our fruit 

 as they eat up the leaves of our garden, orchard, and fruit 

 trees, they are, and always have been, considered as the en- 

 emies of mankind. A universal war is carried on against 



O 



them, and agricultural and horticultural journals are filled 

 with recipes of different preparations, and directions for 

 their destruction, like our newspapers with panaceas for 

 consumption, rheumatism, and all other " ills which flesh is 

 heir to." 



But, after all, it has been the entomologist who, by his 

 indefatigable researches and observations, has discovered 

 their real benefit or injury, that has protected man against 

 them, and them against man ; it was he who looked for 

 their abodes, learned their habits, character, mode of prop- 

 agation, and duration of life ; it was he who discovered 

 their use or their injury, and taught mankind the use which 

 can be made of the beneficial ones, and the only sure means 

 of preventing the baleful ravages of the noxious ones. It 

 is for this purpose that the naturalist collects them, even 

 the smallest insects that live, preserves them in his cabinet, 

 watches them with unwearied care and perseverance, and 

 acquaints his fellow-men with the results of his laborious 

 researches. 



Such a philosopher was in ancient times, and, I am sorry 

 to add, is even now in modern times, too apt to be consid- 

 ered by the ignorant and money -loving, money-making mass 

 of the people as a trifling enthusiast, too lazy to work for 

 his bread ; and should he sacrifice his time and his pecun- 

 iary means in these benevolent and truly philanthropic la- 

 bors, he is without gratitude, or even sympathy, from those 

 he most benefits, living only on the hope and the conscious- 

 ness that future generations will reward the ingratitude of 



