OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 



35 



be urged in behalf of the study of insects considered as the 

 work of the Creator, it is easy to show that, even with such 

 restricted views, their pursuit is as commendable, and as use- 

 ful both to themselves and the community, as many of those 

 on which we look with the greatest respect. To say the least 

 in their favour, they amuse themselves innocently, which is 

 quite as much as can be urged for persons who recreate their 

 leisure hours with music, painting, or desultory reading. 

 They furnish themselves with an unfailing provision of that 



grand panacea for the tcedium vitce " — employment — no 

 unimportant acquisition, when even Gray was forced to ex- 

 claim, with reference to the necessity of " always having 

 something going forward " towards the enjoyment of life, 

 " Happy they who can create a rose-tree or erect a honey- 

 suckle ; that can watch the brood of a hen, or see a fleet of 

 their own ducklings launch into the water ! " ^ And, like the 

 j)receding class, they collect valuable materials for the use of 

 more active labourers, being thus at least upon a par with the 

 majority of book-collectors and antiquaries. 



But this is the smallest half of the value of their pursuit. 

 With what view is the study of the mathematics so generally 

 recommended? Not certainly for any practical purpose — not 

 to make the bulk of those who attend to them astronomers or 

 engineers. But simply to exercise and strengthen the in- 

 tellect — to give the mind a habit of attention and of inves- 

 tigation. Now for all these purposes, if I do not go so far 

 as to assert that the mere ascertaining of the names of insects 

 is equal to the study of the mathematics, I have no hesitation 

 in affirming that it is nearly as effectual ; and with respect to 

 giving a habit of minute attention, superior. Such is the 

 intricacy of nature, such the imperfection of our present ar- 

 rangements, that the discovery of the name of almost any 

 insect is a problem, calling in all cases for acuteness and at- 

 tention, and in some for a balancing of evidence, a calculation 

 of the chances of error as arduous as are required in a per- 

 plexed law-case, and a process of ratiocination not less strict 

 than that which satisfies the mathematician. In proof of 

 which assertion I need only refer any competent judge to the 



I Letter to Dr. Wharton. Mason's Life of Gray, p. 28, 

 D 2 



