2^6 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



hair, for collecting their powder, and four wings 

 to aflift them in carrying off their booty ; to the 

 leaves of plants, the common flies and the gallin- 

 feels, which have pointed and hollow prongs for 

 making incifions in them, and for drinking up 

 their fluids j to the grains, the fcarab race, as the 

 weevil, which is defigned to force it's way into the 

 heart of the feed to feed upon it's meal, and which 

 is provided with wings, incloled in cafes, to pre- 

 vent their being injured, and with a file to open 

 for itfelf a paflage ; to the ftem, thofe worms which 

 are quite naked, becaufe they have no need of 

 being clothed in a fubftance of wood, which (hel- 

 lers them on every fide, but they are furnifhed 

 with augers, by the help of which they fometimes 

 go nigh to deftroy whole forefts ; finally, to the 

 wreck of every fort, the ants which come armed 

 with pincers, and with an inflinct of advancing in 

 bands to cut to pieces, and to carry off every thing 

 that fuits their purpofe. 



The defert of this vaft vegetable banquet is 

 hurled down by the rainy torrents to the rivers, 

 and thence to the Sea, where it prefents a new or- 

 der of relation with the fifties. It is worthy of re- 

 mark, that the moft attractive baits which can be 

 prefented to them, are deduced from the vege- 

 table kingdom, and particularly from the grains, 

 of from the fubftances of the plants, which have 



the 



