INTRODUCTORY LETTER.’ 8 
pursuit, has given his sanction, acknowledging in the preface to his Maun 
Suecica, that although the vegetable kingdom is nobler than the mineral, 
et the animal is more excellent than the vegetable. Now it is an indis- 
putable axiom, I should think, that the more exalted the object the more 
excellent the study. By this observation, however, I would by no means 
be thought to depreciate or discountenance the study either of plants or 
minerals. All the works of our Creator are great, and worthy of our = 
attention and investigation, the lowest in the scale as well as the highest, 
the most minute and feeble as well as those that exceed in magnitude and 
might. Norought those whose inclination or genius leads them to one 
department, to say to those who prefer another — “ we have no need ot 
you”—for each in his place, by diffusing the knowledge of his works, and 
adding to the stock of previous discoveries, contributes to promote the 
glory of the Great Architect of the universe and the good of his creatures. — 
It is not my wish to claim for my favourite science more than of right 
belongs to her ; therefore, when the question is concerning rank, I must 
concede to the higher orders of animals, I mean Fishes, Amphibia, Birds, 
and Quadrupeds, their due priority and precedence.’ I shall only observe 
here, that there may exist circumstances which countervail rank, and tend 
to render the study of a lower order of beings more desirable than that of 
a higher: when, for instance, the objects of the higher study are not to be 
come at or preserved without great difficulty and expense ; when they are 
few in number; or, when they are already well ascertained and known: 
circumstances which attach to the study of those animals that precede 
insects, while they do not attach to the study of insects themselves. 
With regard to the amusement and instruction of the student, much 
doubtless may be derived from any one of the sciences alluded to ; but 
Entomology certainly is not behind any of her sisters in these respects ;— 
and if you are fond of novelty, and anxious to make new discoveries, she 
will open to you a more ample field for these than either Botany or the 
higher branches of Zoology. 
A new vertebrate animal or plant is seldom to be met with even by those > 
who have leisure and opportunity for extensive researches ; but if you 
collect insects, you will find, however limited the manor upon which you 
can pursue your game, that your efforts are often rewarded by the capture 
of some nondescript or rarity at present not possessed by other entomo- 
logists, for I have seldom seen a cabinet so meagre as not to possess some 
unique specimen. Nay, though you may have searched every spot in 
your neighbourhood this year, turned over every stone, shaken every bush 
or tree, and fished every pool, you will not have exhausted its insect pro- 
ductions. Do the same another year and another, and new treasures will 
still continue to enrich your cabinet. If you leave your own vicinity for 
an entomological excursion, your prospects of success are still further in- 
creased ; and even if confined in bad weather to your inn, the windows of 
your apartment, as I have often experienced, will add to your stock. Ifa 
sudden shower obliges you at any time to seek shelter under a tree, your 
attention will be attracted, and the tedium of your station relieved, where 
1 Tf, however, rank were to be estimated by number of species or individuals of a 
Species, the pre-eminence could be claimed by insects, which, from the calculations 
made by various entomologists, probably amount to 400,000 or even more, perfectly 
distinct from each other; while for all the other classes of animals together, 30,000 
Spocies would be a high estimate. 
B2 
