PREFACE. XV 



world while he sees it possible to polish them to 

 higher excellence, the naturalist, if he wishes to 

 promote the extension of his science, must be con- 

 tent to submit his performances to the public dis- 

 figured by numerous imperfections. 



In the introductory letter several of the advan- 

 tages to be derived from the study of Entomology 

 are pointed out; but there is one, which, though 

 it could not well have been insisted upon in that 

 place, is too important to be passed over without 

 notice — -its value in the education of youth. 



All modern writers on this momentous subject 

 unite in recommending in this view, Natural His- 

 tory : and if "the quality of accurate discrimi- 

 nation — the ready perception of resemblances 

 amongst diversities, and still more the quick and 

 accurate perception of diversity in the midst of 

 resemblances — constitutes one of the most im- 

 portant operations of the understanding ; if it be 

 indeed the foundation of clear ideas, and the 

 acquisition of whatever can be truly called know- 

 ledge depends most materially on the possession 

 f it : — if "the best logic be that which teaches 

 us to suspend our judgements ;" and "the art of 

 seeing, so useful, so universal, and yet so uncom- 

 mon, be one of the most valuable a man can pos- 

 sess/' — there can be no doubt of the judiciousness 

 of their advice. Now of all the branches of Na- 



