INTUODtrCTION. 
19 
constitur. !° U ar seasons. The honey of bees, in many warm climates, 
nioths fi another primary article ot food. The caterpillars of several 
all ran| Urni i matcr ‘ a ^ s tor ^’e silken raiment so universally worn by 
tries th * 'ii ' le eastenl parts of the world; and hence in these coun- 
use as u M d produce ol these industrious little animals is of as much 
silk i E 1 . cy coat °f the sheep : s to us. As an object of traffic, 
those" ° nC 01 thc utmost importance in Chum and Tartary; and in 
rial T, rtS P a P eras manulac lured horn the refuse of the same mate- 
sects • 10 exCen ? ,ve use wux ' n all ages is well known. Some in- 
neal i' 11C . US ™ with success iu medicine; and many others (the cochi- 
bers "• 1Ustancc ) are rendered useful in the arts: and greater num- 
might perhaps be employed for the same purpose. These few, 
°t a vast many instances, are sufficient to prove the absurdity of an 
t I 11,0,1 v !*y prevalent, “ that: insects arc too insignificant to deserve 
ie attention ol the philosopher." But allowing these benefits to be 
s , vllowl h an d that the study ol Entomology is not productive of any 
,,,. t Stantlal ^vantages, how absurd would it still he to treat: such an 
^ ccttstve portion of the creation with neglect ! The objection, that they 
Would K°"' lse c T duc,vc t0 tmr interests (even If founded in truth), 
conclude n ,a e , V l ence < ;’ 1 l ]lc ln yolity of the science; unless we are to 
are those i i ' “"‘y «witnvtus which merit our rational attention 
mit ed a I '° " C smitlcatlon of selfishness. If this he ad- 
tion n V ^ ect10 "’ how n,an . v chjwts of philosophical investisja- 
Z Zll c C Kjeet ft ™ ‘ Hv0l,n,s ’ Fro '“ ri *c earliest period In wffich 
it hght ot natural knowledge dawned, this class of animals has oh 
teinwl a certain portion of attention: and although the study has not 
terlv nlHecti’r hm l 1Vat&! " T"’ a * loUr> yct il hi,s not been ut- 
lents as snlenffid i , en g , f l g ed the study ot men endowed with ta- 
«h^ffecf t “±H?r i ?ernent “ retlned > aS tbc niost «<dted of those 
4Utcl vO treat it with contempt. 
