218 Harris's Insects of New England 



fact that, notwithstanding the immense number of species, 

 there are very few common and identical to Europe and to 

 this continent ; and hut a few introduced and accHmated. 

 served to increase the difficulty of ascertaining any precise 

 information about our plants, insects or lower animals. 

 Industrious enterprise and private munificence have, to a 

 great degree, removed this trouble, and such pursuits are 

 now being carried forward with a zeal and ardor which 

 promises signal success. Agricultural, horticultural, flori- 

 cultural and scientific societies scattered all over the United 

 States, arc engaged in this noble cause; and, through the 

 means of the humblest effort of any one of these, may be 

 anticipated vast advantages to the cause of Education and 

 of Improvement. 



The degree of precision necessary to the successful study 

 of Entomology can hardly be conceived. A very large pro- 

 portion of these little creatures, the insects, is of the most 

 minute forms : even of almost microscopic size. Among 

 noxious insects, these minuter enter into a fair representa- 

 tion, and prove as insidious as they are really invisible. 

 Some are so anomalous as to have been mistaken for vege- 

 table forms; and, under these false colors, have, for a long 

 time, carried on their successful attack and injurious pur- 

 suits. The mimber of insects belonging to, or found in, the 

 limits of Massachusetts, we are told, may be estimated at 

 " 4800, or in proportion of four to one plant."' How many 

 of these are injurious would be difficult to determine : and 

 yet of the indirectly beneficial, the number is by no means 

 small. Could we adopt the Epicurisms of some foreign 

 countries, doubtless we should be able to swell the list in 

 their favor, while we added to the " delights of the table" I 

 But beyond " buggy peas," we do not generally indulge in 

 such dainties, though no one can yet say, how savory 

 might be several condiments of insect food, which, could 

 we but eat^ we might regard in a more favorable light. 

 And, as often the most successful appeal to a man's heart, 

 or to his sympathies, is through his stomach, who knows 

 what vast results to science, and to general advancement, 

 might accrue from some well conducted experiments in 

 that way ? 



To facilitate the useful study of the insects of the State, 

 the author has given a synoptical arrangement in the seven 

 great divisions or orders usually adopted by naturalists. 



