
This work opens with a gracious dedication to a leading patron of science, underscoring the authors’ ambition to link the study of insects with agriculture and the broader arts. It also notes the rapid evolution of insect classification, offering readers the most up‑to‑date genera and subgenera so they can follow modern scientific language with confidence.
In the preface, the writers confront the long‑standing prejudice that has kept entomology on the margins of British scholarship, contrasting it with the popularity of botany and other sciences. They argue that the real barrier has been the lack of a clear, affordable introduction, and they set out to fill that gap with a lively, comprehensive guide. Ideal for curious minds, the book promises a rewarding entry point into the fascinating world of insects, presenting essential anatomy, behavior, and ecological roles without overwhelming jargon.
Full title
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. 1 or Elements of the Natural History of the Insects
Language
en
Duration
~15 hours (904K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Douglas L. Alley, III, Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2013-08-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1817–1906
Best remembered for The Golden Dog, he helped shape early Canadian historical fiction with a sweeping tale of old Quebec. His life also reached beyond novels, touching journalism and public service in Niagara.
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1783–1860
Best remembered as one half of the classic natural-history partnership behind An Introduction to Entomology, he helped turn the study of insects into lively reading for a broad audience. He also wrote on political economy, showing a wide curiosity that reached beyond science.
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