PRELIMINARY 



OBSERVATIONS, 



BY DIFFERENT AUTHORS. 



X ^RHAPS we have been accustomed to 

 look upon Insects as so many rude scraps of 

 Creation; but if we examine them with at- 

 tention, they will appear some of the most 

 polished pieces of divine workmanship. 

 Many of them are decked with the richest 

 finery. Their eyes are an assemblage of 

 microscopes : the common Fly, for instance, 

 who, surrounded with enemies, has neither 

 strength to resist, nor a place of retreat to 

 secure herself. For this reason she has need 

 to be very vigilant, and always upon her 

 guard. But her head is so fixed that it 

 cannot turn to see what passes, either be- 

 hind, or around her. Providence therefore 

 has given her, not barely a retina, but more 

 than a legion of eyes : insomuch that a single 

 fly is supposed to be mistress of no le^s than 



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