THE EAETHWOM 



THE COMMON HOUSEELY. 



LETTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



Reader, 

 From the title of this Treatise you wUl see that we 

 invite you to consider with us the natural history of 

 two creatures which are usually supposed to rank 

 amongst the humblest in the Animal Kingdom, and 

 which, although exceedingly familiar to us, are, com- 

 paratively speaking, less understood and appreciated 

 than almost any other living forms. But why should 

 this be the case ? Suppose any one were to inquire 

 of us whether we are aware upon what principle, and 

 of what materials, a penknife, or any ordinary article 

 in daily use is constructed, and to what purposes it is 

 applied, we should hardly thank him for his estimate 

 of our knowledge with regard to common things; 

 but we should feel in no way afironted, if, instead, he 

 asked us whether we possessed similar information 



