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afloniflied at the wonderful and elaborate workmaiifhip exhibited in 

 this creature, v.hich appears fo minute to the naked eye, but does, 

 I think, in perfection, far exceed the larger animals we daily 

 behold. 



If we advert to the hind part of the body, formed with joints 



jndented in the fame manner as in the maggot, from which, by 



tranfjTiutation it was produced, and obferve the multitudes of veins, 



fcattered over it, we mufi: more and more be confounded at fuch 



great perfe61:ion in fo minute a creature. 



In like manner in the wings, we fee many vefTels and finews, 

 which finews fcr\"e to expand and firejigthen them ; likewife many 

 pointed particles or hairs, with which the membranes of the wings 

 are covered : it is alfo worthy of obfervation, how the wings are 

 folded and doubled up, both in length and breadth (which is fliewn 

 between G and H, as nearly as the limner could imitate it) in order 

 that they may be entirely covered by the cafes ; befides which, this 

 animal is provided with another exceedingly minute wing on each 

 fide. Let us alfo confider, with what inconceivably minute finews 

 or mufcles thefe wings muft be provided, in order that the ani- 

 mal, when it prepares for fiight, may unfold them both in length and 

 breadth ; and how the joints and finews mufi: be contrived, fo to 

 ftrengthen the wings when unfolded, that by their fwift vibrations, 

 the animal may fliape its courfe through the air. 



In order, more clearly, to give an idea of the foldings in tliefe 

 wings, I took one of them from under its cafe, and placed it, together 

 with the finew or mufcle which adiiered to it, before a microfcone, 

 diredting the limner to make a drawing of it, and alfo of the finew, 

 whereby the wing is unfolded and put in motion. 



F/ij, 25, OSVWXY, reprefents this wing according to its 

 pofition when covered by the cafe or flicll ; V, is the broadeft part of 

 the wing, and this part lay either under or above the correfponding 



Qq2 



