The world of insects : a guide to its wonders

Front matter

■ r

L

THE

Preface

his mind that are untouched by his business avocations; in order that he may see all things on both sides and in their true light.

There is no employment for leisure hours, whether they he the few of the man of business or the many of the man of no business, more innocent in itself or more productive of benefits than the pursuit of Natural History generally; and Entomology, or the Natural History of Insects, on account of the number, beauty and accessibility of its objects, has peculiar advantages as a means of popular recreation. Once begun, ennui and the want of something to do vanish, every step is on enchanted ground, and on all sides the prospect becomes more and more enticing. The inducement to go out of doors, — the walk with a purpose in view, — so different to that most dreary of all employments, walking for the salve of exercise, — is itself no mean advantage. Then the collector wants to know something about the nature of the insects he has acquired, and begins to study their habits, forms and relationships.

PREFACE.

Vll

This calls into exercise the practice of patience, of minuteness and accuracy of observation, and eventually of cautiousness in induction and generalization; all of which, besides their value as elements of mental discipline, are qualities serviceable in an eminent degree in the business of life. Bonnet has said, “When I see an insect working at the construction of a nest or a cocoon, I am impressed with respect, because it seems to me that I am at a spectacle where the Supreme Artist is hid behind the curtain.” Who can view such scenes continually without forgetfulness of self, and having his thoughts carried upwards, and becoming not only a wiser but a better man!

Contrast with such an employment of leisure the way in which the majority of young men spend their spare hours, — dissipation, frivolous amusements or the ephemeral literature of the day, — and who can be surprised that the result, so far as regards the cultivation of the individuals, is nil , the balance being on the other side. There is a minority of young men, I know, that do better vm

PREFACE.

than this, yet, without any desire to undervalue literature or art, — nay, with every inclination to reverence and appreciate genius of every kind, whether showing the power of mind over mind or the power of mind over matter, — I still believe that man and his doings, his follies and his crimes, engage too much of our attention. AmjKif we go beyond the circle of human sympathy, I fear we are too prone to be passive: we like knowledge to come to us second - hand — filtered through other men’s brains; and we take their conclusions — the truth as it appeared to them — to be the whole truth. But no man, however great, has so thoroughly comprehended any subject as to have exhausted it; every phase of Nature has yet at least another point from which it may be viewed. For observers and reasoners Natural History still offers a boundless field. I have no wish to elevate Entomology above its rank in the scale of Natural- History Science, nor to laud it as a panacea for the evils accruing to society from the waste of time ; but I am sure that, whether as a recreation, a study, or both, it would give to multitudes a

PREFACE.

IX pleasure, of which, although so sadly in want, they have now no idea.

When it is considered that there are above ten thousand species of insects in Britain, it will be obvious how few of the wonders of insect -life I have been able to indicate within the limited compass of these pages. For the same reason it will easily be understood that no single individual can ever hope to have within his own experience the natural history of even the insects of his own country; and when the facts I have mentioned have not come under my own eyes, or when they have already been graphically set forth by others, I have preferred, as the more effective and honest course, to quote the very words of the narrators, rather than to give a story of my own founded upon them.

My endeavour has been to put some of the more prominent and interesting characteristics of insect-life into a readable form, to point out some of the best localities for insects, and the methods of

X

PREFACE.

capture, with the hope that the readers will he induced to go and examine the objects for themselves. If I shall have succeeded in this labour of my leisure hours, I may be induced to continue the work; but at any rate I shall be happy to answer any enquiries addressed to me through the post.

The Author.

6, Kingswood Place, Lee,