T. M. M‘GREG0R on PERTHSHIRE ENTOMOLOGY. 
3 ^ 
These and like instances show us that God has invested with 
many redeeming features even the lowliest of His creatures, and 
teach us that we should never allow popular prejudice to cause us 
thoughtlessly to despise what the All-Wise has created. 
Most people are familiar with the lovely iridescence of the wings 
of the common house-fly ; with the appearance of a dragon-fly, which 
shoots past us like a dazzling blaze of light as the sunshine strikes 
its beautiful, sylph-like wings; and with the form of our familiar 
friend the grasshopper; but how very few have noticed, or taken the 
trouble to admire, the surpassing beauty of structure—quite apart 
from colour—which even the humblest of God’s creatures presents 
to us. 
Have you ever noticed the delicate tracery of the wings of a lace¬ 
wing—that fairy-like creature with the golden eyes,—or paused to 
look at the burnished gold of the small copper butterfly as it flits 
lazily to and fro amongst the flowers at “ your feet; ” or have you 
ever been fascinated with the striking colour of a blue or scarlet 
dragon-fly ? These and such like are beauties visible to the naked 
eye; but there are deeper beauties, which are only disclosed through 
the lens or the microscope ; 
“ The shapely limb and lubricated joint 
Within the small dimensions of a point; 
Muscle and nerve miraculously spun : 
His mighty work, Who speaks and it is done.” 
If people would only take the trouble, next time an insect crosses 
their path—instead of brushing it hastily away or destroying it,—to 
capture and carefully preserve it, and examine it through a glass— 
even for the express purpose of finding out wherein it is repulsive,— 
loathing and repulsion would be turned into admiration; and should 
they be tempted to go further, and try to learn something of the life- 
history of certain insects, the outcome of all would be much wonder¬ 
ment at the adaptation of the individual life to its circumstances, 
and a deep and profound reverence for the marvellous wisdom of 
their Divine Creator and Sustainer. 
We do not here propose to enter upon any discussion as to the 
utility or non-utility of the study of entomology, but can only say 
that, did its utility alone lie in its advantages as an elevating source 
of instruction, or in the health-giving pleasure of collecting, its claims 
would be sufficient and complete; and although we know that the 
collection and preservation of insects is by many regarded as a 
childish and effeminate pastime, we also know that every hard¬ 
working entomologist holds a widely-different opinion. 
In our own Society the lack of interest in general entomology. 
