STUDY X. 395 



for the fentiments of order, of beauty, and of plea- 

 fure, which fprlng up in the mind, at the fight of 

 her Works j and from their abfence arife the nn- 



eafy 



The common deep-coloured fly reforts, in like manner, tQ 

 white and brilliant objeéls ; and this accounts for the tarnifliing 

 of every thing gloffy and gilded in our apartments. The flefli- 

 fly delights, on the contrary, to fettle on the livid colours of 

 meat in a ftate of putridity. His blue corfelet makes him eafily 

 difcernible on that ground. 



If we extend thefe contrats farther, we (liall find that, not 

 only all fanguinivorous infeds have the inflin<ft of oppofing their 

 colours to thofe of the fituations in which they live, but all car- 

 nivorous animals likewife; whereas all feeble, gentle, and in- 

 noxious animals, as we have feen, are furniflied with means and 

 inftin<^s of confonance with the ground on which they arc made 

 to inhabit. Thus has Nature willed it fliould be, in order that 

 the firrt might be perceived by their enemies, and that the fe«- 

 cond might be enabled to efcape them. 



From thofe natural Laws might be deduced a multitude of 

 ufeful and agreeable confequences, tending to the improvement 

 of our habitations, in refpeft of cleanlinefs and conveniency. 

 For example, in order the more readily to deftroy the infetfls 

 which difturb our deep, and which are fo common in Paris, it 

 would be proper to have the alcoves, the ftaining, the drapery, 

 the wooden frames of our beds, of white or faint colours ; on 

 which infeils might be eafily perceived. 



As to conveniency, every one muft be fenfible how neceflary 

 it is that the colours of different pieces of furniture fliould form 

 a contraft, for the purpofe of being dift^inguiflied with facility. 

 I am frequently at a lofs, for inftance, to know what is become 

 of my fnuff-box, becaufe it is black, like the table on which I 



put 



