THE CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 39 



The nourishment of Insects is as varied and different 

 as that of larger animals. A great number of them 

 are carnivorous, and prey upon other insects, as is repre- 

 sented in Plate I., or they feed on dirt, dead bodies, or 

 decayed wood, as the dung-beetles, flies, ants, and the 

 larvae of the stag-beetle ; or they feed on* plants, as the 

 may-beetle, plant-lice, &c. 



In regard to the venom of Insects, we find a number 

 of them provided with organs for biting or stinging, 

 which occasion inflammatory tumors and poisoned 

 wounds, which are ofttimes dangerous, and sometimes 

 fatal to man, as, for instance, the sting of the scorpion^ 

 scolopendra ; and even of bees, wasps, and musquitoes. 



The faculty called Instinct, which belongs to all 

 animals, and by which, from an internal impulse, and 

 without instruction, they perform certain actions tend- 

 ing to their own support, or that of their offspring, is 

 also found in Insects, as well as some faculties of the 

 mind, which would astonish an observer. Thus, when 

 the Tumble-beetle in vain tries to roll its little ball up 

 a hill, it runs for assistance, and brings back with it 

 two or three other ones who roll up the ball in concert 

 with it, but as soon as they have succeeded, the assist- 

 ants fly away, and the first one continues his work 

 alone. Bees, Wasps, and Ants defend themselves with 

 great courage, and woe to him who attacks a wasp's 

 nest! Some flower-beetles, like opossums, pretend to 



