Introduction. 7 



Further, to use the somewhat exaggerated words of Kirby 

 and Spence, whose work on Entomology is one of the most 

 instructive and pleasing books on the science, * Aristotle 

 among the Greeks, and Pliny the Elder among the Komans, 

 may be denominated the fathers of Natural History, as well 

 as the greatest philosophers of their day ; yet both these 

 made insects a principal object of their attention : and in 

 more recent times, if we look abroad, what names greater 

 than those of Redi, Malpighi, Vallisnieri, Swammerdam, 

 Leeuwenhoek, Reaumur, Linnaeus, De Geer, Bonnet, and 

 the Hubers ? and at home, what philosophers have done 

 more honour to their country and to human nature than 

 Ray, Willughby, Lister, and Derham ? Yet all these made 

 the study of insects one of their most favourite pursuits."* 



And yet this study has been considered, by those who 

 have superficially examined the subject, as belonging to a 

 small order of minds ; and the satire of Pope has been 

 indiscriminately applied to all collectors, while, in truth, it 

 only touches those who mistake the means of knowledge 

 for the end : 



" ! would the sons of men once think their eyes 

 And reason given them but to study Flies ! 

 See Nature, in some partial, narrow shape, 

 And let the Author of the whole escape ; 

 Learn but to trifle ; or, who most observe, 

 To wonder at their Maker, not to serve."f 



Thus exclaims the Goddess of Dulness, sweeping into her 

 net all those who study nature in detail. But if the matter 

 were rightly appreciated, it would be evident that no part 

 of the works of the Creator can be without the deepest 

 interest to an inquiring mind ; and that a portion of creation 

 which exhibits such extraordinary manifestations of design 

 as is shown by insects must have attractions for the very 

 highest understanding. 



An accurate knowledge of the properties of insects is 

 of great importance to man, merely with relation to his 



* Introduction to Entomology, vol. i. 

 t Dunciad, book iv. 



