344 
HABITS OF THE ADEPHAGA. 
and its professor, though he may have learnt his task like a Parrot, and be 
incapable of original investigation, is set down as a philosopher of no ordinary 
profundity. Other sciences attain a like eminence from gratifying the cui-bono 
principle of human nature. Man’s Acquisitiveness is powerful, and a science will 
by many be considered attractive, instructive, and sublime, just in proportion as 
it leads to the produce of wealth, and assists di ttoAAo! in their soul-absorbing 
efforts to make “ a farthing into a penny,”—and who (to use the expression of an 
eminent botanical friend) 44 are probably impenetrable to any argument which 
would shew utility to be not always lucrative.” 
I do not wish by the above remarks to depreciate Astronomy—a truly delight¬ 
ful science—but I do wish to depreciate that unreasonable prejudice which would 
exclude from the halls of philosophy the study of organic nature,—a prejudice 
not confined to the mean in station or low in intellect, but which biasses the minds 
of many who have credit in the world for superior wisdom, and of many more 
whose rank is amply sufficient to attract the gaze, and excite the admiration of 
the clownish multitude ! The time, however, will I trust arrive when the motto 
so well prefixed to The Naturalist will be generally and practically admitted, 
that 44 Nothing can be unworthy of being investigated by Man which has been 
thought worthy of being created by God.” I agree with Messrs. Lees and Pigott 
in believing that the study of Natural History will best be advanced in popular 
favour and attention by such works as those of White, Knapp, Waterton, 
Mudie, and our worthy Editor. And this desirable object will best be impeded 
by introductory treatises on the sciences being loaded with circles within circles, 
dry uninteresting details, fancied affinities, and forced analogies. 
Neglected as insects are generally, Coleoptera meet with a double share of 
apathy,—“ the poor Beetle that we tread upon ” must humbly yield its claims 
for notice and admiration to the 
“ Minions of Nature!—Creatures of the skies ! 
Ye bright-wing’d flutterers! Sun-born Butterflies! 
Ye living gems! Ye fairy-formed things! 
Peerless in beauty! ” 
And yet Beetles possess many points of interest,—in some respects even excelling 
the other orders. Their structure is more perfect and complex,—and their habits 
are more diversified and peculiar. Is brilliancy of colour considered a recom¬ 
mendation ? 44 An eye accustomed to the brilliant shades of green and purple 
that adorn many of the Buprestidce ,—the blue and coppery hues of Eumolpi ,—■ 
the varied delineation of the Cetoniidce ,—and the warm but delicate tinting of 
the Cerambycidce ,— will not frequently find other natural productions on which 
it can repose with greater pleasure.”* Indeed many of the elytra of these 
interesting beings might be described in the words of the poet— 
* Jarp. Nat. Lib.* Ent II„ pp, 87—8, 
