166 



glorious is the thought, that although they should 

 perish, that many should be changed to stone, as illus- 

 trations of types which occurred before the age of man. 

 Illustrations of nature preserved for man, to ponder 

 over, to marvel at, and to admire, If we turn from the 

 inanimate to the animate world, whether it be to in- 

 bccts, to birds or to beasts, we have many striking proofs 

 of the power and wisdom of the Creator. 



The transformations in the insect world are wonders 

 well deserving our attention. The common gnat 

 deposits its eggs in the water soon to become active 

 denisonsof the stream, yetbut for a short period; aftera 

 time they rise to the surface each as a crysalis,which is 

 speedily burst open to set free a winged creature, whose 

 second existence is destined to skim about the air. 

 Although this creature was the same iusect in both 

 existences, yet if in the first, we took it from the water 

 it speedily perished, whilst during its second life im- 

 mersing it in the stream would as speedily produce 

 its destruction ! What a change must take place in 

 its mode of breathing. The lava of the butterfly or 

 beetle crawling in the soil, or feeding on the leaves of 

 flowers, how difJerent to its second life, in the one 

 slow motioned and unsightly, in the second winged 

 and beautiful, darting through the air with incon- 

 ceivable rapidity. 



How various are the habits of diUerent species; the 

 common brov<^n butterfly skimiog along the ground, and 

 the Purple Emperor [like the lark] soaring high into the 

 air to meet the rising sun. How different are the habits 

 6f the mid-day butterfly to that of the midnight moths 

 the one rejoicing in the sunbeams, the other hiding till 

 the gathering darkness of night invites it forth. 



How unlike, the life of the may-fly to that of the 

 church yard beetle, the former living but a day, while 

 the latter survives a three years fast. 



