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 bee 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 intent 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- 



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