OF INSECTS. 183 



by reason of their minuteness, or the minuteness of their 

 parts, (for tliat minuteness we can, in some measure, fol- 

 low with glasses) but also, by reason of the remoteness of 

 their manners and modes of life frotn those of larger ani- 

 mals. For instauce ; insects, under all their varieties of 

 form, are endowed with cuiteniKE, which is the name given 

 to those long feelers that rise from each side of the head ; 

 but to u))at common use or want of the insect kind, a pro- 

 vision, so universal is subservient, has not yet been ascer- 

 tained ; and it has not been ascertained, because it admits 

 not of a clear, or very probable comj)arison, with any or- 

 gans which we possess ourselves, or with the organs of an- 

 imals which resemble ourselves in their functions and fac- 

 ulties, or with which we are better acquainted than we are 

 with insects. We want a ground of analogy. This diffi- 

 culty stands in our way as to some particulars in the in- 

 sect constitution which we might wish to be acquainted 

 with. Nevertheless, there are many contrivances in the 

 bodies of insects, neither dubious in their use, nor obscure 

 in their structure, and most properly mechanical. These 

 form parts of our argument. 



I. The chjtra, or scaly wings of the genus of scarabeeus 

 or beetle, furnish an instance of this kind. The true wincr 

 of the animal is a light transparent membrane, finer than 

 the finest gauze, and not unlike it. It is also when ex- 

 panded, in proportion to the size of the animal, very large. 

 In order to protect this delicate structure, and perhaps, 

 also to preserve it in a due state of suppleness and humidi- 

 ty, a strong, hard case is given to it, in the shape of the 

 horny wing which we call the elytron. When the animal 

 is at rest, the gauze wings lie folded up under this impene- 

 trable shield. When the beetle })repares for flyinf;^ he 

 raises the integument, and spreads out his thin membrane 

 to the air. And it cannot be observed without admiration, 

 what a tissue of cordage, i. e. of muscular tendons, must 

 run, in various and complicated, but determinate directions, 

 along this fine surface, in order to enable the animal, 

 either to gather it up into a certain precise form, whenever 

 it desires to place its wings under the shelter which na- 

 ture hath given to them ; or to expand again their folds, 

 when wanted for action. (P). XXXII. fig. 1.) 



In some insects, the elytra cover the whole body ; in 

 others, half; in others, only a small part of it; but in all, 

 they completely hide and cover the true wings. (PI. XXXII. 

 fig. 2.) 



