MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 265 



riasis* from the numbers of a small mite (Gamasus 

 Gymnopttrorum} that infest it, will take its station in an 

 ant-hill ; where beginning to scratch, and kick, and make 

 a disturbance, the ants immediately come out to attack 

 it, and falling foul of the mites, they destroy or carry 

 them all off; when the bee, thus delivered from its ene- 

 mies, takes its flight. 



In this long detail, the first idea that will, I should 

 hope, strike the mind of every thinking being, is the 

 truth of the Psalmist's observation that the tender 

 mercies of God are over all his works. Not the least 

 and most insignificant of his creatures is, we see, de- 

 prived of his paternal care and attention ; none are ex- 

 iled from his all-directing providence. Why then should 

 man, the head of the visible creation, for whom all the 

 inferior animals were created and endowed ; for whose 

 well-being, in some sense, all these wonderful creatures 

 with their miraculous instincts, whose history I am 

 giving you, were put in action, why should he ever 

 doubt, if he uses his powers and faculties rightly, that 

 his Creator will provide him with what is necessary 

 for his present state ? Why should he imagine that a 

 Being, whose very essence is LOVE, unless he compels 

 him by his own wilful and obdurate wickedness, will ever 

 cut him off from his care and providence ? 



Another idea that upon this occasion must force it- 

 self into our mind is, that nothing is made in vain. When 

 we find that so many seemingly trivial variations in the 

 colour, clothing, form, structure, motions, habits, and 

 economy of insects are of very great importance to 



a VOL. I. 97 



