188 ZOOLOGY. 



not advanced in equal rapidity with that of either of the 

 sister sciences, Ornithology or Botany ; but from the atten- 

 tion now paid to this interesting portion of Animals, this 

 branch of Natural History is fast emerging from that 

 obscurity in which it has been suffered to remain so long. 



The prejudice of Mankind, against the study of the more 

 minute parts of the creation is now giving way, being for- 

 merly considered as unworthy of attention, on the account 

 of their not contributing to the luxuries or conveniences of 

 life; this contempt, for the Minutiae of Nature, was not con- 

 fined to the ignorant or uncivilized, but even men of learn- 

 ing and Philosophers treated the study of Entomology, and 

 those who turned their attention to acquire a knowledge of 

 the habits and oeconomy of Insects, as fools ; considering that 

 these animals were so contemptable from their size, and of 

 such mischievous habits, as only to be permitted by provi- 

 dence, to exist as instruments for the infliction of punish- 

 ment, on erring mortals. But as men became more enlight- 

 ened, the wonders displayed in the varied forms and propen- 

 sities of these little animals began to be observed, each spe- 

 cies was found possessed of proper implements for the sup- 

 plying of its wants, some were discovered furnished with 

 scoops, others with suckers, by which they Avere enabled to 

 extract the nectariferous juices of flowers ;many had forceps 

 or saws, by which they separated the particles of their food, 

 too large to be consumed whole ; of the Beetle tribe, divers 

 were observed to bury such substances, as in their fresh 

 state, were too hard for their consumption ; till putrefac- 

 tion had decomposed their parts, when such as were rejected 

 by the Beetles, offered a delicious repast to the Ant, or oth«r 



