14 
INSEC I’S. 
half that time; nay there are some which do not 
survive many hours; but this latter period is to 
be understood only of the animals v/hen in their 
complete or ultimate form, for the larvae of such 
as are of this short duration have in reality lived 
a very long time under .water, of which they are 
natives; and it is observed that water-insects in 
general are of longer duration than land-insects. 
Some few insects however in their complete state 
are supposed to live a considerable time, as Bees 
for instance; and it is well known that some of 
the Butterfly tribe, though the major part perish 
before Avinter, will yet survive that season in a 
state of torpidity, and again appear and fly 
abroad in the suceeding spring. Spiders are also 
said to live a considerable time, and some species 
of the genus Cancer are said to live several years, 
especially the common Lobster, &c. It should 
be observed however that these animals, in the 
opinion of some modern naturalists, constitute a 
different tribe of beings from Insects properly so 
called. 
I must not dismiss this slight introduction to 
the survey of Insects without observing that this 
branch of Natural History has above all others 
been subject to the ridicule which has so fre- 
quently been bestow ed on the investigation of 
that science in general. Even those who from 
their superior genius and talents might have been 
supposed to have held every branch of science 
in its proper degree of estimation, have occasion- 
