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finds nourishment for above 200 species of them, 

 Some attack the roots of this 'tree, which they dig 

 into, and produce therein various tuberosities. Others 

 fix themselves in the trunk t where they make crook- 

 ed furrows. Some insinuate themselves into the bark 

 and wood ; whilst others penetrate the interior 

 parts, whence they extract the juice. Some feed only 

 on the leaves. Others fold or roll them up with a great 

 deal of art. Some form them into nuts. Others iind 

 both lodging and nourishment in the fruit. Nay, ga- 

 ther but a flower by chance either a daisy, poppy, or 

 rose, and you will observe on it a multitude of insects. 

 In short, where can we turn our eyes without behold- 

 ing animals ? Nature has strewed them every where 

 with a bountiful hand. They were her most excellent 

 productions ; she has been liberal of them. She has en- 

 closed animals within animals $ she has ordained one 

 animal to be a world for others, which should find 

 therein nourishment in proportion to their wants. The 

 air, vegetable and animal liquors, corrupt matter, dirt, 

 dung, dry wood, shells, and even stones, are all ani- 

 mated, all swarm with inhabitants. What do I say? 

 The sea itself sometimes appears to be one entire col- 

 lection of animals. The light, which glitteringly reflects 

 on it in the night-time, during hot weather, is prodaced 

 by an infinite number of very minute glow-worms of a 

 yellowish brown colour, and soft substance, not unlike 

 caterpillars, every part of which, after being divided, 

 and even putrified, shines with the same brightness as 

 when the worm was whole and living. A species of 

 sea-Jlies are also luminous, and communicate their lustre 

 to the waters. There issues from within them a globu- 

 lar matter, which is likewise phosphorous. 



Herls are more numerous in their species and indivi- 

 duals than shrubs and trees. Insects are more numer- 

 ous, in respect to their species and individuals, than 

 lirds and quadrupeds. There are more ranunculuses 

 than rose-lushes, and more blades of grass than oaks, 



