Xxiv PREFACE. 



among a few exceptions from it, that venerable one 

 where splendid talents, a long life, and princely 

 fortune have been invariably devoted to patronize 

 science, without regarding either the garb, the lan- 

 guage, or the peculiar opinions of the person by 

 whom it may have been cultivated. 



In the following pages, the author, sincerely con- 

 vinced that the object he had in view would have 

 been otherwise unattainable, has endeavoured to 

 pursue the example set by the new school of na- 

 turalists; for he happens indeed to be one of those 

 who prefer an imperfect transitory glimpse of na- 

 ture, pure and unveiled, to a full view of the most 

 commodious and ostentatious mantle that can be 

 employed to conceal her beauties from the gaze. 

 With such sentiments, it cannot be a matter of 

 surprise that he should have distrusted names still 

 more celebrated in entomology than that of Lin- 

 neeus, when their authority was used to confirm a 

 system. His confidence, however, in the observa- 

 tions of these much respected persons has been 

 always implicit, and if he has ventured to criticize 

 their theory, it would be truly ungenerous in him not 

 to state that his present opinions have been founded 

 on the accuracy of the facts to which they first drew 

 his attention. To observe, to compare, and from 

 these observations and comparisons to attempt to 

 draw conclusions, has been the common plan pur- 



