PREFACE. 



The study of Natural History, within the last few 

 years, has made a wonderful progress in England, 

 much beyond what the author could have expected : 

 and it is with heartfelt joy that he can perceive the 

 still farther research that is now making by able» 

 strong-minded and most worthy men, who have ta- 

 ken up the subject, and are pursuing it with a warmth 

 and a degree of fervour that it is well worthy 

 of; for most certainly no works of the GREAT 

 CREx\TOR exhibit so much wonder in their organ- 

 ization as insects, or so much perfection in so small 

 a space — the simple fact of the numerous eyes in the 

 common house-fly. — Insects, indeed, appear the most 

 important agents in the work of creation — active, 

 minute and numerous ; they are capable of produ- 

 cing famine, pestilence and disease : they are also the 

 agents far beyond our knowledge of the fructification 

 of plants,— they are also the consumers of decompo- 

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