278 OUR IGNORANRCE OF THE 



it embraces, the season, the subjects, and the vigi- 

 lance necessary to catch every momentary action, 

 requires from its followers a homage more absolute, 

 an attention more devoted, than most others. Amid 

 those few branches of science on which I have 

 sought for blossoms, that of entomology I have 

 least investigated : yet, perhaps it may be said, 

 that such slight notices as the foregoing need not 

 have usurped the time that the study of this 

 department required. To this truth I cannot but 

 assent, and say with the eminent man, whose 

 " Centuries of Experiments" I have often quoted, 

 that they are indeed more the suggestions of 

 " light than of fruit ;" proficiency was beyond 

 my powers; I have sought for amusement, and 

 gratefully record the many peaceful hours, and 

 oblivion of pain, which the perusal of nature's 

 volume gave me, superficial as that perusal was. 



On whatever side we turn our attention in this 

 world of wonders by which we are surrounded, we 

 constantly find some subject that calls forth our ad- 

 miration 5 and, as far as our very imperfect vision 

 is permitted to penetrate, we observe the same un- 

 remitting order and provision for a seemingly mean 

 and worthless purpose, as is bestowed upon a higher 

 and apparently more worthy object. We consider 

 insects as one of the lower orders of creation, but 

 are as perfectly unacquainted, generally speaking, 

 with the objects of their being, though they have 

 for ages crawled and winged their way around us, 



