OF N A T U R E. 125 



§. 2U 



This fubjeft concerning the oeconomy of na- 

 ture, a very fmall part of which i have lightly 

 touched upon, is of fuch importance and dig- 

 nity, that if it were to be properly treated in 

 all its parts, men would find wherewithal to 

 employ almofl all the powers of the mind. Nay 

 time itfelf would fail before even the moft 

 acute human fagacity would be able to dif- 

 cover the amazing oeconomy, laws, and ex- 

 quifite flrudture of the leaft infedl, fince as 

 Pliny obferves, nature no where appears more 

 herfelf, than in her moft minute works. Every 

 fpecies of created beings deferves to engrofs one 

 examiner. 



If accordinor to orofs calculation we reckon 



o o 



in the world 20000 Ipecies of vegetables^ 3000 

 of worms ^ 12000 of infe5fs^ 200 of amphi- 

 hicus animals^ 2600 of fifloes^ 2000 of birds p, 

 200 of quadrupeds •, the whole fum of the fpe- 

 cies of living creatures will amount to 40000. 

 Out of thefe our countrey has fcarcely 3000, 



p How the author came to reckon 2coo fpecies of birds 

 in the world i cannot guefs, for in the Syft. Nat. Linn, edit, 

 6. there are only about 150 mentioned, and in the laft edi- 

 tion of tha( book not above ceo, 



for 



