INTRODUCTION. 49 
gives additional force to a beautiful passage in Paley’s 
‘Natural Theology,’ proving the goodness of God from the 
happiness of such multitudes of the inferior animals made 
to enjoy life. “It is a happy world after all. The air, the 
earth, the water teem with delighted existence. In a spring 
noon, or summer evening, on whatever side I turn my eyes 
myriads of happy beings crowd upon my view. ‘ The insect 
youth are on the wing.’ Swarms of new-born flies are 
trying their pinions in the air. Their sportive motions, 
their wanton mazes, their gratuitous activity, their continual 
change of place without use or purpose, testify their joy, 
and the exultation they feel in their lately discovered facul- 
ties. A dee amongst the flowers in spring, is one of the 
most cheerful objects that can be looked on. Its life ap- 
pears to be all enjoyment: so busy and so pleased: yet it 
is only a specimen of instinct life, with which, by reason of 
the animal being half-domesticated, we happen to be better 
acquainted than we are with that of others. The whole 
winged insect tribe, it is probable, are equally mtent upon 
their proper employments, and, under every variety of con- 
stitution, gratified, and perhaps equally gratified, by the 
offices which the Author of their nature has assigned to 
them. But the atmosphere is not the only scene of enjoy- 
E 
