350 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



But we must guard against a very natural mis- 

 take which might arise upon the subject of the 

 eyes of insects from supposing them in any degree 

 comparable to those of higher animals as regards 

 their motions. When man, or an animal, wishes 

 to look at any object, they do so by causing 

 several muscles to be brought into action which 

 move the eyes round so as to receive the rays of 

 light from the particular point where this object 

 is placed; and so admirably arranged is the 

 mechanism by which these movements are effected, 

 that they are as well provided for all the purposes 

 of sight with two eyes as with twenty. In insects 

 no such apparatus exists ; the eyes are quite im- 

 movable ; they are, in fact, set in the head like a 

 gem in a lady's ring, and are altogether removed 

 from the control of the insect. In order to obviate 

 the annoyance and inconvenience which would 

 result from this arrangement, their eyes are 

 formed on the wonderful principles already men- 

 tioned, and, instead of insects being furnished with 

 two eyes, they are provided with many thousands ! 

 They are thus enabled to enjoy not only the same 

 extent and range of vision with ourselves, but even 

 a much larger. 



