ENHARMONIC quarter of a Tone of Rameau, is the ENHARMONIC Diesis -Htp which see. (e) LvTomot.oe.v, from cvTo,ccx, an insect, and Ativos, a dis course ; the science which treats of insects, a class of animals, which were formerly arranged, along with CnusvAcEa and ARACIINIDES, under the general deno mination of insects (I xsEevA,) which, as we have al ready shown under the article CRUSTACEOLOGY, are now universally allowed to be distinct. The word iY Tdp.4 is derived from iv, into, and ritow, to cut ; and in scctum has a similar root, from in, into, and seco, to cut, because insects are divided into numerous segments, or from their being generally almost divided into two parts, which arc merely attached to each other by a slender thread. The former term was made use of by Aristotle, who lived about 500 years before the Christian era, and seems to have been known much earlier than his time. It is defined by him to signify an animal which, by in cisions, is severed into two or more parts. The latter word, insectum, is adopted by Pliny, and was in use among the Latins long before his time, and we find it applied in the same sense as the i'vrof.ta of Aristotle.
As the animals of this class constitute the most con siderable portion of animated beings, it becomes one of the most interesting and important sciences which can engage the mind of the philosopher. The extreme dif liculty of discriminating the characters and particular affinities of these beings, arising from their number and variety of form, in addition to their minuteness, more strongly claims his consideration. Ile who neglects the study of insects, or thinks it beneath his notice, cannot deserve our respect, as a general observer of nature, nor be considered a scientific naturalist. The views of such a man will be partial, and his inquiries circum scribed ; he regards only an inconsiderable portion of animated nature ; and he confines his remarks to such as, from their size and distinctness of character, present the least obstacle to investigation. In the study of ento mology, the man of science will find abundant scope for the exercise of his zeal. The amazing number of species ; their curious forms, so infinitely varied, and yet so nearly and gradually approximating through an endless series of transitions from one species to another ; the diversity of structure observable in those parts which afford generic characters, added to the wonderful changes in form which they undergo, with their surpriz ing economy,—are circumstances which contribute to render them objects of most curious speculation to the philosopher. And although the study of every class of animals is most indisputably attended with peculiar ad vantages, yet we shall venture to affirm, that it is from a knowledge of the characters, metamorphoses, and various modes of life, these little animals are destined to pursue, that he will obtain a more intimate acquain tance with the great laws of nature, and veneration for the Great Creator of all, than can be derived from the contemplation of any other class in nature. Many other attractions accompany the study of this department of science. The beauty of insects in general, renders them engaging to many who have neither time nor inclination for studying their more complicated struc ture ; and the gaiety of their colours, often combined with the most graceful forms, displays a beauty, splen dour, and vivacity, greater than that bestowed by the hand of Nature on any of her other works. One defect in appearance must indeed be conceded ; and this may be regarded, in point of beauty, a material defect; they are not always so considerable in magnitude as to become, even with these embellishments, so strikingly attractive. Were they equal in size to the smallest birds, their elegance would render them more invitint; in the eyes of mankind in general ; but, even amongst the minor species, when examined with a microscope, we find their beauty and elegance far superior to that of any other class in nature. " After a minute and attentive examina
tion," says Swammerdam, " of the nature and structure of the smaller as well as the larger animals, I cannot but allow an equal, if not superior, degree of dignity to the former. If, whilst we dissect with care the larger animals, we are filled with wonder at the elegant disposi tion of parts, to what a height is our astonishment rais ed, when we discover these parts arranged in the least in the same regular manner !" Insects may be divided into two kinds ; those which are immediately or remotely beneficial or injurious to mankind. Many insects certainly seem not to affect us in any manner ; others, and by far the greater number, most assuredly fall under one or the other denomination, and surely on this account demand our most serious at tention ; but, lest our allusion to the utility of some in sects should seem hypothetical to the superficial ob server, whilst the noxious effects of others are too ob vious to admit of doubt, we shall be more explicit in this observation. The depredations of insects upon vegeta ble bodies are often detrimental ; but it must be remem bered, that in these ravages they often repay the injury they commit. The locust, the most destructive of all insects, whose numbers spread desolation through the vegetable world, are not (except on some occasions when their multiplication exceeds all bounds) unproductive of advantage. Although they deprive mankind of a certain portion of their vegetable food, yet, in return, their bodies afford nutriment of a wholesome and palatable kind, and in much greater abundance. The various species of locusts are the common food on which the inhabitants of many parts of the world subsist at particular seasons. The honey of bees, in many warm climates, constitutes another primary article of food. The caterpillars of several moths furnish materials for the silken raiment so universally worn by all ranks in the eastern parts of the world ; and hence, in these countries, the silky produce of these industrious little animals is of as much use as the fleecy coat of the sheep is to us. As an object of traffic, silk is one of the utmost importance in China and Tartary ; and, in those parts, paper is manufactured from the refuse of the same material. The extensive use of wax, in all ages, is well known ; but it is less generally understood that all wax is not produced by the bee alone ; the wax-insect of China is a very distinct animal : (See CICADA, Index ; and Donovan's Insects of China). Some insects are used with success in medi cine; and many others (the' cochineal, for instance,) are rendered useful in the arts : and greater numbers might perhaps also be employed for the same purposes. These few, out of a vast many more instances, are sufficient to prove the absurdity of an opinion, very prevalent, 44 that insects are too insignificant to deserve the attention of the philosopher." But allowing these benefits to be un known, and that the study of entomology is not produc tive of any substantial advantages, how absurd would it still be to treat such an extensive portion of the creation with neglect ? The objection, that they are in nowise conducive to our interests (even if founded in truth), would be no evidence of the frivolity of the science, unless we are to conclude, that the only inquiries which merit our rational attention are those which tend to the gratification of selfishness. If this be admitted as an objection, how many objects of philosophical investiga tion must be rejected as frivolous ! From the earliest period in which the light of natural knowledge dawned, this class of animals has obtained considerable attention ; and although the study has not at all times been cul tivated with equal ardour, yet we shall hereafter be enabled to prove that it has not been utterly neglected, but has engaged the study of men endowed with talents as splendid, and judgment as refined, as the most exalted of those who affect to treat it with contempt.