INSECT. 



chopterous orders we find equally successful means 

 of defence. We have already quoted a passage rela- 

 tive to the dragon-fly, from which it will be seen how 

 completely, by means of wings, eyes, and mouth, it 

 is enabled to escape its enemies. The delicate gauze- 

 winged golden-eyed flies (Hemcrobiut), which seem 

 too slight to encounter even a breath of air, come 

 forth only at the dusk ; they, moreover, emit the 

 most disgusting scent; and, as a still further defence, 

 they have the instinct to place their eggs out of 

 danger, at the extremity of long and slender foot- 

 stalks, and their larvae cover themselves with a coat 

 formed of the skins of their victims. 



The Phrygmiea: encase themselves, in the larva 

 state, in firm cases of earth, stones, shells, &c., fastened 

 together; and thus their soft and fleshy bodies are 

 secured from the attacks of fishes which, as every 

 angler is aware, deem them a tempting morsel. 



Who is there that has not experienced how well 

 some of the insects of the hymenopterous order are 

 enabled to defend themselves by the assistance of 

 their sting ? We surely need not describe the pain 

 inflicted by this delicate instrument, which we have 

 described at length in our article BEE. 



The Lep'uloptcra are perhaps the most defenceless 

 amongst insects, but, even here we find many larvte 

 luiviiiir instinct to enroll themselves in the leaves of 

 plants, or to form for themselve tents or tubes of 

 various materials for their abodes ; whilst others, by 

 the resemblance of their colours to the plants upon 

 which they are found, or by the hairs with which 

 they are clothed, are amply defended against their 

 foes. 



In the hemipterous order we find a very numerous 

 tribe, composing the Linnaean genus Ciniex (the bugs), 

 able effectually to defend themselves by the emission 

 of a powerful scent, which, although occasionally in 

 some few species not disagreeable, is in general very 

 disgusting. 



In the Ilemiptcra many species, as the Ccrcopida;, 

 are enabled to leap to very great distances, thus 

 avoiding their enemies ; whilst some in the larva stale 

 conceal themselves beneath a curious coating of froth. 

 The Diptcra do not present any very striking in- 

 stances of insect defence ; the rapidity of their motions, 

 as well as those of insects composing the remainiti 

 order Ajj/tanijilcra (the flea), ought not, however, to 

 be omitted. 



From this review of the means of defence in the 

 various orders of insects, it will be seen that distinct 

 organs for active defence arc not possessed by the 

 majority of these animals, but that they are amply 

 compensated by equally effective modes of counter- 

 acting the attacks of their foes, consisting of powers 

 of evasion, as rapidity of flight, strength in swimming, 

 quickness in leaping, and velocity in running ; or ol 

 repulsive powers, as emission of powerful odours, the 

 hideousness of appearance, or simulating powers, 

 whereby the appearance of death or other objects is 

 assumed. 



The various facts which we have now adduced will 

 we are convinced, be amply sufficient to prove how 

 interesting is the study of this class of animals 

 Here all is motion, all manifests in the strougesi 

 degree the desire to prolong existence, and to per- 

 petuate the countless insect tribe?. The constan* 

 dread of destruction to which, from their sinal 

 size, insects are so pre-emicently liable, und iigdins 

 which their instinct, in all states of their existence, is 



brought into full action, is nevertheless necessary to 

 jreserve a just proportion between all the tribes of 

 he creation. Here indeed we may safely believe 



All discord, harmony, not understood, 

 All partial evil, universal good. 



Under whatever aspect we consider the little ob- 

 ects of our present consideration, if we admire the 

 variety of their forms, the beauty of their colours, the 

 diversity in their habits, the surprising development 

 of their instinctive faculties, or the great part which 

 they take in keeping up the harmonies of nature, we 

 no longer marvel that so much care has been bestowed 

 .n their construction, or that so many good and learned 

 men have endeavoured to study them in their various 

 relations. Here we have seen structure and function 

 admirably adapted to each other ; here, in these tiny 

 wheels of the great machine of the creation, we see 

 developed and put in motion, even by a single glance 

 of the unassisted eye, but still more admirably by the 

 assistance of the microscope, the great resources of 

 the Great and Almighty Machinist of all things. It 

 is surely here, amongst the most perfectly organised 

 tribes of the lower animals, as well as in the most 

 stupendous objects of the animated world, that we trace 

 " the W T isdom of God in the works of the Creation." 



" Full nature swarms with life ; one wondrous mass 

 Of animals or ntoms ur/fani.'i/'d, 

 Waiting the vital breath when Parent Heaven 

 Shall bid his spirit blow. The hoary fen, 

 In putrid streams, emits the living cloud 

 Of pestilence. Through subterranean cells, 

 Where searching sun-beams scarce can find a way, 

 Earth animated heaves. The flowery leaf 

 Wants not its soft inhabitants. Secure, 

 Within its winding- citadel, the stone 

 Holds multitudes. But chief the forest boughs 

 That dance unnumbered to the playful breeze, 

 The downy orchard and the melting pulp 

 Of mellow fruit, the nameless nations feed 

 Of evanescent insects. Where the pool 

 Stands mantled o'er with green, invisible 

 Amid the floating verdure, millions stray; 

 Each liquid too, whether it pierces, soothes, 

 Inflames, refreshes, or exalts the taste. 

 With various forms abounds Nor is the stream 

 Of purest crystal, nor the lucid air, 

 Though one transparent vacancy it seems, 

 Void of their unseen people. 

 Let no presuming impious railer tax 

 Creative Wisdom as if aught was formed 

 In vain, or not for admirable ends. 

 Shall little haughty Ignorance pronounce 

 His works unwise, of which the smallest part 

 Exceeds the narrow vision of her mind ? 

 As if upon a full -proportioned dome 

 On swelling columns heaved, the pride of art, 

 A critic fly whose feeble ray scarce spreads 

 An inch around, with blind presumption bold, 

 bhould dare to tax the structure of the whole. 

 And lives the man whose universal eye 

 Has swept at once the unbounded scheme of things, 

 Mark'd their dependence so, and firm accord, 

 As with unfaltering accent to conclude 

 That this availeth nought > Has an y si-en 

 The mighty chain of beings lessening: down 

 From infinite perfection to the brink 

 Of dreary nothing, desolate aV 

 From which astonished thought, recoiling turns .- 

 Till then, alone let zealous praise ascend, 

 And hymns of holy wonder to that Power 

 Whose wisdom shines as lovely on our minds, 

 As on our smiling eyes his servant sun." 



Section 5. Classification of Insects We have now 

 arrived at another branch of our subject, which, in 

 many respects, is especially deserving the notice o 

 the "student, namely the classification of insects, 

 which has engaged the attention of naturalists in all 

 ages. This portion of entomological science divides 

 itself primarily into two points of view: firstly, an 

 inquiry into the mitim: of the various relations exist- 



