S54- AFFECTION OF INSECTS FOR THEIR YOUNG. 



times its own bulk and weight in two days *. It is plain 

 that all this labour is incurred for the sake of placing in 

 security the future young of these industrious insects 

 along with a necessary provision of food. One mole 

 would have sufficed a long time for the repast of the 

 beetles themselves, and they could have more conveniently 

 fed upon it above ground than below. But if they had 

 left thus exposed the carcase in which their eggs were 

 deposited, both would have been exposed to the immi- 

 nent risk of being destroyed at a mouthful by the first 

 fox or kite that chanced to espy them. 



At the first view I dare sa}' you feel almost inclined 

 to pity the little animals doomed to exertions apparently 

 so disproportioned to their size. You are ready to ex- 

 claim that the pains of so short an existence, engrossed 

 with such arduous and incessant toil, must far outweigh 

 the pleasures. Yet the inference would be altogether 

 erroneous. What strikes us as wearisome toil, is to the 

 little agents delightful occupation. The kind Author of 

 their being has associated the performance of an essen- 

 tial duty with feelings evidently of die most pleasurable 

 description ; and, like the affectionate father whose love 

 for his children sweetens the most painful labours, these 

 little insects are never more happy than when thus ac- 

 tively engaged. " A bee," as Dr. Paley has well ob- 

 served, " amongst the flowei's in spring, (when it is oc- 

 cupied without intermission in collecting farina for its 

 young or honey for its associates,) is one of the cheer- 

 fullest objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears 

 to be all enjoyment : so busy and so pleased ^." 



Of the sources of exquisite gratification which every 



• Gleditsch Phyaic. Bot. Oecon. Abhandl. iii. 200-227. 



* Natural Theology, 497. 



