IRREGULAR APPEARANCE OF INSECTS. 245 



if you had the power of choice, would you serve ? 

 In whose ranks would you be enrolled ? 



" Under which king, Bezonian ? speak or die." 



Second Part of Henry IV., Act V. Sc. IIV 



The mind, wliile en^ao-ed in this branch of science, 

 is not only enriched by the knowledge of new facts, 

 but is pleased and exercised in the endeavour to 

 account for phenomena which seem to follow no 

 regular order of succession. Tliis is a legitimate and 

 justifiable appphcation of its powers : — 



" Sure, he that made us with such large discourse. 

 Looking before and after, gave us not 

 That capability and godlike reason, 

 To fust in us unused."— Hamlef, Act IV. Sc. IV. 



The investigation of the laws which regulate the 

 appearance of any of the inferior animals, which 

 send them forth as living beings endowed with all 

 necessary instincts and powers, or which retard their 

 developement for any indefinite periods of time, is 

 desen'ing of attention from a reflecting and well- 

 regulated mind. Many opportunities for such in- 

 quiries will be afforded by Entomolog}^ for some 

 insects are so irregular in the time of their appear- 

 ance, being abundant in some seasons, or for some 

 days, and then not seen again for successive years, 

 that we are half tempted to exclaim, with Hamlet, — 



