Most boys have a fondness for forming collections of various objects,
such as Foreign Stamps, Crests, and Coins; but very few comparatively
collect Natural Objects. Now it will be admitted by all that the
collecting of Natural Objects, such as Insects, Shells, Plants,
Fossils, Minerals, etc., possesses immense advantages over that of
Foreign Stamps and the like; for the former, besides satisfying the
collecting ambitions, also cultivates the observant and intellectual
faculties, while at the same time affording healthful recreation in the
fields and woods.
Again, a mere collector's province may be exhausted in a few years,
whereas the study and observation of Natural History, which are
the usual "fruits" of collecting Natural Objects, are practically
inexhaustible.
Another great advantage which Natural History possesses, is that it
may be prosecuted with very little expense, and is therefore a subject
which even the poorest person may conveniently undertake.
This little handbook is intended to be a "Guide to Collecting Insects,"
which by way of Natural History, we may remark, is becoming more
popular every day in this country. Hitherto, however, there have been
very few books published on Entomology for beginners, but for those who
wish to go more deeply into the subject than the present brief manual
can pretend, we would strongly recommend them to obtain Mr. Kirby's
excellent illustrated "Text-Book of Entomology" (Swan Sonnenschein
& Co.), to which work we are greatly indebted for much valuable and
interesting information.