LETTER XXVI. 



ON THE HYBERNATION AND TORPIDITY 

 OF INSECTS. 



IF insects can boast of enjoying a greater variety of 

 food than many other tribes of animals, this advantage 

 seems at first sight more than counterbalanced in our 

 climates, by the temporary nature of their supply. The 

 graminivorous quadrupeds, with few exceptions, how- 

 ever scanty their bill of fare, and their carnivorous 

 brethren, as well as the whole race of birds and fishes, 

 can at all seasons satisfy, in greater or less abundance, 

 their demand for food. But to the great majority of 

 insects, the earth for nearly one half of the year is a 

 barren desert, affording no appropriate nutriment. As 

 soon as winter has stripped the vegetable world of its 

 foliage, the vast hosts of insects that feed on the leaves 

 of plants must necessarily fast until the return of spring : 

 and even the carnivorous tribes, such as the predaceous 

 beetles, parasitic Hymenoptera^ Sphecina, &c. would at 

 that period of the year in vain look for their accustomed 

 prey. 



How is this difficulty provided for ? In what mode 

 has the Universal Parent secured an uninterrupted suc- 

 cession of generations in a class of animals for the most 



