Chapter II: Preface: ,

BY THE TRANSLATOR.

The favourable critique of these Researches (_Recherches sur les Mœurs des Fourmis_, &c.), in the Edinburgh Review, for July, 1812, led me to entertain little doubt, that, long ere this, a translation would have been presented to the public.

Disappointed in this expectation, and desirous of filling up agreeably a portion of my leisure time, I engaged in the translation, although aware of the little merit attached to so humble an office. If the reader, however, experience the same pleasure in the perusal of this work, as I did in transcribing it for the press, both parties will be satisfied, and I shall have the gratification of knowing that my labour has not been unavailing, or my time misemployed.

The additional notes are not what I was desirous they should be. I hoped to have made some addition to the History of Ants, or at least to have confirmed some of the very remarkable facts recorded in the present volume, particularly that of the female ants voluntarily depriving themselves of their wings after impregnation; but I lament that continued ill health prevented my making those exertions necessary to attain this object.

I regret that, during my residence at Geneva, I was not personally acquainted with our author, who resides in the neighbourhood of that city, and who would doubtless have felt much pleasure in supplying me with additional information. I then had no idea of putting the following pages to the press, or I would have obtained an introduction through the medium of my kind friends, Professor Pictet or Monsieur de Luc.

It were much to be wished that monographs on the smaller animals, like the one now before us, were more frequently published in this country, since it would have the effect of removing, in some degree, the ridicule attached to those who attend to the minuter objects of creation, and of placing this department of Natural History, on a more extended and firm basis.

That entomology is neither a trifling nor an useless study, it will be enough to mention--to say nothing of the national advantage Sweden derived from the entomological knowledge of Linnæus--the very great services rendered to medicine and the arts, by the introduction of the silk-worm, the cochineal insect, and the Spanish fly.

But, waiving these advantages, and others equally great would doubtless arise, if this branch of Natural History were more generally cultivated, let us only consider it in the light of an amusement,--still is it an amusement not without its charms.

The amusements of the Naturalist are attended with no great expense; his employment in the open air contributes to the preservation of his health; his frame becomes robust from constant exercise, and the spirit of enquiry is awakened as he contemplates the several objects by which he is surrounded: whether he climbs the lofty mountain, confines himself to the smiling valley, crosses the brawling stream, penetrates the entangled forest, or breaks out into the open plain, a thousand beings sporting in the air, measuring the ground, or skimming the surface of the liquid element, arrest his steps, and claim his attention; his pulse beats high with enjoyment, and his heart, warmed with the kindlier emotions, throbs with unutterable delight; moreover,

“He fears no bailiff’s wrath, no baron’s blame;
His is untax’d and undisputed game.”

+Crabbe’s+ _Borough_, p. 110.

Bristol, Feb. 6, 1820.