LETTERS ON ENTOMOLOGY. & 
commit a manifest act of oppression, which we 
should think the height of cruelty if performed 
upon any of the human species by a being suf-* 
ficiently powerful. Therefore I would not wish 
you to destroy those which are merely trouble- 
some, as many thoughtless people do, who would 
consider it very unjust if they were punished in 
the same way. 
In Europe, insects are seldom dangerous, 
except from their number, and in that case they 
must be destroyed speedily ; however, the harm- 
less kinds are by far the most common, and there 
is great amusement to be derived from rearing 
and observing them, for no species of animal un- 
dergoes such astonishing changes, or is endowed 
with such curious instincts. What a surprising 
difference is there between the crawling voracious 
caterpillar, and the volatile splendid butterfly, 
which can in many instances live without food, 
and is always content with the small portion of 
honey contained in flowers ! 
There is nothing more interesting than to ob- 
serve their domestic habits, if I may so express 
myself, and the different manner in which they 
take care of their little families. Even those 
who are most disgusted with the appearance of 
B spider, would be pleased to see the species 
