INTRODUCTION. 7 



Interesting as is the whole subject of bird and 

 insect manufactures, there is one department in 

 which we are more concerned than the rest ; 

 namely, that in which the product can be applied 

 to our own use, either in the way of food or 

 clothing. Now this department is supplied wholly 

 by insects, no bird, that we are aware of, pro- 

 ducing by its own manufacturing powers, any 

 substance that can be so employed, unless, indeed, 

 we except the curious edible nests of the Java 

 swallow, which have been converted by the taste 

 of oriental epicures into an article of food. 



Let us then proceed to notice such of the insect 

 manufactures as are useful to man, and trace, at 

 the same time, the history and performances of 

 these small but not insignificant manufacturers. 



