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but on the other hand -who can watch a fly 

 engaged in brushing its wings and back and 

 h ead, and then rubbing its fore-limbs or hind- 

 limbs together, as if to clean its suckers after 

 being soiled, and not be convinced that it has 

 the sense of touch? We have often been tempted 

 to think that insects may possess senses un- 

 appreciable by ourselves, and undescribable 

 because we are not endowed with them. 

 Certainly it is strange that these brainless 

 creatures, with a nervous system so simple, 

 should be so quick, so prompt, so observant, 

 so cautious, so skilful, should display memory 

 and judgment, and be urged by anger or 

 daring, or influenced by apprehension and 

 fear. 



Insects are organized for flight, and, besides 

 the ordinary limbs, are furnished with two 

 or /our wings, (with certain exceptions,) of a 

 membranous, and often extremely delicate 

 tissue, marked by nervures which are re- 

 garded as air-tubes continued from the body. 

 The extent and shape of the wings vary greatly 

 • — in some, the wings are smooth, transparent, 

 and glittering j in others, they are covered v.'ith 

 scales, or plumes of the most exquisite colours ; 

 and in others, as the beetle tribes, they are 



D 



