143 



resists, in some species, a degree of cold superior lo that 

 of our severest winters. 



4. The organs of generation, in most insects, are 

 placed at the extremity of the belly: that which cha- 

 racterizes the male, consists principally of one or t\ve 

 species offleshy horns, which are turned different ways, 

 and are generally drawn within the body, but emitted 

 from thence at the pleasure of the insect. The hind 

 part of divers males is also furnished with hooks, by 

 means of which they fasten on that of the females: 

 in the interior part are lodged different vessels, which 

 are connected with the principal organ of generation, 

 and separate the fecundating liquor from the mass of 

 blood : at the oiid of the aperture formed in t\\efem,ale, 

 there is joined a kind of canal, which, in many insects, 

 sends forth several branches, called tubes or ovaries. 

 These are species of very fine intestines, in which the 

 eggs are ranged in a row, almost like the beads of a 

 chaplet. 



The eggs nearest the aperture are the largest, or in 

 a more advanced state. They gradually diminish ac- 

 cording to their dislance : at length they become alto- 

 gether invisible. 



In the common passage, where the ovaries terminate, 

 there is inserted, in some species, a very short canal, 

 which commimicates with an oblong cavity, that is con- 

 sidered as analogous to the matrix : in this cavity the 

 liquor of the male is deposited. 



Amongst viviparous animals the economy of the 

 tubes changes. Sometimes the young are ranged in 

 bunches; at others, they form a kind of cord, twisted 

 spirally, whose length, width, and thickness, exactly 

 correspond in number to the length and thickness of 

 the young that compose it. The young of some vivi- 

 parous insects, before they are brought forth, tear the 

 membrane or ovary that incloses them ; they are, to use 

 the expression, on this account subject to a two-fold 

 birth. 



The eggs of insects are of two kinds : some are 



