1682 Insects. 



" mode said children for so doing, but it shall be lawful for said children to 

 " stick pins through said cockchaffers, or other insects, and let them fizz round 

 " at any, and at all times, when disposed, except at church, during the hours 

 '* of divine service, if said children shall be at church, without let or impedi- 

 "ment; Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall prevent 

 " parents from punishing children for any other fault by them committed. 

 Whereas charges of mirthful cruelty to insects are here made against those who 

 doubt their excessive sensibility, the' Ventnor Diamond' is reminded that the only in- 

 stance of merry-making at the sufferings of insects occurs from the pen of one of his 

 partizans, — the hot-plate experiment to wit. 



" And Whereas it hath also been the custom of boys at school to procure 

 " a certain creature, called a toad, and having obtained a short piece of board 

 " and a stout stick, to balance said board on a gate, or post, or rail, or other 

 " suitable support — and having seated the toad on one end of said board, to 

 " strike the other end smartly with said stick, whereby the creature is tossed 

 " high up into the air, and falling down with a smash, causes great delight to 

 " the spectators ; And Whereas, it hath been the custom of their masters or 

 " tutors to punish said boys for so doing on the plea of cruelty to said animals, 

 " whereby much pleasing and enlivening amusement is prevented : Be it 

 " hereby Enacted, that it shall not be lawful for masters and tutors to punish 

 " their scholars on any such plea, seeing that such creatures have no feeling of 

 " pain from such treatment : Provided always that nothing herein contained 

 " shall preclude masters from punishing scholars for any other misdemeanors 

 " by them committed. 

 Whereas Cuvier and other zoologists of eminence do not consider the toad to be an 

 insect, we recommend the ' Ventnor Diamond ' to withdraw that animal from the 

 argument. 



" And Whereas much distress exists in various pa,rts of the country, 

 " very often for want of employment ; Be it further Enacted, that it shall be 

 " lawful for persons during the coming season, to procure a supply of said 

 " toads and cockchaffers and such like, with suitable pins, boards and sticks, 

 " which they may dispose of, to purchasers for the above-named purposes, 

 " which may aid them in obtaining an honest livelihood. And lastly, Be it 

 " Enacted, that this Act shall extend over the Whole World ! 



" Delta. 

 • " Ventnor, Isle of Wight, 

 "March 1st, 1847." 

 And Whereas Mr. Edward Doubleday, an entomologist of great eminence, fonnerly 

 adopted the signature of " Delta,'' and rendered the said signature illustrious by his 

 talents, the said Edward Doubleday suffers grievous wrong and injury by the issuing 

 of such documents as the above bearing the same signature. 



Given under our hands this 18th day of March, 1847. 



Edward Newman. 



