VI PREFACE. 



that few of the Elementary books already published 

 are sufficiently simple and satisfactory; perhaps 

 the best that has appeared is the Entomologia 

 Edinensis, published by that elegant writer, James 

 Wilson, of Edinburgh ; throughout the work pe- 

 dantry is avoided, while orismology is attended to, 

 and what is of more consequence, the philosophy of 

 science is steadily kept in view. It is, however, but 

 a local Fauna, and therefore cannot be of general 

 utility. The glowing pages of a Kirby and a Spence 

 have no doubt induced many individuals to prose- 

 cute with ardour the study of Insects. — Alas ! like 

 the grammar of a language, the elements of science 

 (particularly that of Entomology) have presented at 

 the outset not only a stumbling block, but a very for- 

 midable barrier, nearly insuperable to human assi- 

 duity. To clear away these impediments, to render the 

 tyro's first attempts at systematic Entomology more 

 engaging than at present, is one object of the pre- 

 sent Manual; a second is, that the writings of Lin- 

 neus and Fabricius may no longer be as a sealed 

 book or dead letter; a third is, to exhibit the state 

 of Entomological science at the present day, and 

 thereby enable others to direct attention to those 

 points which have been most neglected. Let us 

 enquire how it happens that the writings of the 



