56 On the Study of Entomology} \ 



are hardly less numerous than the injuries. Honey, silk, cochineal, 

 ale, and blisters, are familiar examples of direct benefits. The 

 indirect are less easily recognised, but not the less substantial. Like 

 all classes of the animal kingdom, insects are divisible into the 

 devourers and the devoured. The voracious hordes that live at the 

 expense of human industry are themselves the victims of a host of 

 carnivorous foes and parasites, controlling their increase, and miti- 

 gating their ravages. An inestimable amount of benefit is received 

 by mankind from this source. The intricate adjustments which 

 thus determine the balance of Nature, are largely dependent upon 

 insects. And all interference on our part, by extermination or 

 otherwise, if conducted without knowledge, is just as likely to do 

 harm as good. Anyone can see that the destruction of spiders 

 means the increase of flies : and that when a farmer ignorantly sets 

 traps for moles, the wire-worms are likely to enjoy peace and plenty. 

 There was a time when the Kentish hop-growers, seeing millions 

 of lady-birds on their hops, waged war upon them, under the idea 

 that they were the cause of the hop-blight. The teachings of ento- 

 mology have long since shewn them that they were killing their best 

 friends ; that the Coccinella is carnivorous, and preys upon the Aphis, 

 the real source of mischief. But I am digressing, though perhaps 

 not unreasonably, inasmuch as having mentioned the usefulness of 

 entomology, I was bound to shew some warrant for the assumption. 



With all the subjects above mentioned, and an infinity of collateral 

 matters, the naturalist must be conversant ; keeping steadily in 

 view the advancement and diffusion of knowledge, for the benefit 

 of mankind. It is for this that he investigates and registers the 

 phenomena of the world, seeking general principles from the 

 structure, economy, and mutual relations of living creatures, which 

 he applies to the elucidation of the obscure problems of biology and 

 the intricacies of the great scheme of Nature. The character of 

 the man who is fitted for such pursuits is no common one. He 

 must be humble and patient, free from the vulgarity of prejudice, 

 and tolerant of the prejudices of others ; reverent^ but not super- 

 stitious ; indefatigable in his work, knowing that success means an 

 immense capacity for details ; not devoted to the idol of beauty, 



