270 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Nature ; and it pleafes us flill more, perhaps, as 

 being weak and limited creatures^ capable of tak- 

 ing in only a fingle point at once. 



It gives us.pleafure, for example, to view the 

 relations between the probofcis of a bee, and the 

 neftareous juices of flowers ; between thofe of her 

 thighs, hollowed into fpoons, and briflled with 

 hairs, to the fine powder of the ftamina which (he 

 there coUefts 5 between thofe of her four wings, 

 to the booty with which (lie is loaded, (a refource 

 by Nature denied to flies which travel without a 

 burthen, and which, for this reafon, are furniflied 

 with two only * ;) finally, the ufe of a long ftingj 

 which fhe has received for the defence of her pro- 

 perty, and all the conformities of the organs of 

 this fmall infeft, which are more ingenious, and 

 in much greater number, than thofe of the largeft 

 animals. 



But the intereft grows upon us, when we fee her 

 covered all over with a yellow powder, her thighs 

 pendent, and half opprefTed with her burden, di- 

 reâiing her flight through the air, acrofs plains, 

 rivers, and iliady groves, under points of the 



* The iclineumon, or aquatic dragon-fly, is, in like manner 

 provided vVith four wings, becaufe fhe too was intended to fly 

 under a load. I have feen her catch butterflies in the air. 



wind. 



