14 INSECTS, 



half that time; nay there are some which do not 

 survive many hours; but this latter period is to 

 be understood only of the animals when in their 

 complete or ultimate form, for the larvae of such 

 .as are of this short duration have in reality lived 

 a very long time under water, of which they are 

 natives; and it is observed that water-insects in 

 general are of longer duration than land-insects. 

 Some few insects however in their complete state 

 are supposed to live a considerable time, as Bees 

 for instance; and it is well known that some of 

 the Butterfly tribe, though the major part perish 

 before winter, will yet survive that season in a 

 state of torpidity, and again appear and fly 

 abroad in the suceeding spring. Spiders are also 

 said to live a considerable time, and some species 

 of the genus Cancer are said to live several years, 

 especially the common Lobster, &c. It should 

 be observed however that these animals, in the 

 opinion of some modern naturalists, constitute a 

 different tribe of beings from Insects properly so 

 called. 



I must not dismiss this slight introduction to 

 the survey of Insects without observing that this 

 branch of Natural History has above all others 

 been subject to the ridicule which has so fre- 

 quently been bestowed on the investigation of 

 that science in general. Even those who from 

 their superior genius and talents might have been 

 supposed to have held' every branch of science 

 in its proper degree of estimation, have occasion- 



