'be formed on the productions of nature, are so many 

 enigmas proposed to beings that are banished into a 

 corner of the universe, and whose sight, as short as that 

 of' the mole, can only perceive the nearest objects, and 

 the most direct and most striking relations. 



It behoves us to remain in the place that has been 

 allotted for us, from whence we can only discover some 

 links of the chain. One day we shall discover more of 

 them, and shall see them more distinctly. Meanwhile 

 we may consider these proceedings of insects, so diver- 

 sified and replete with industry, as an agreeable spec- 

 tacle, exhibited by nature to the eyes of the observer, 

 "that furnishes him with an inexhaustible source of re- 

 flective pleasure and useful instruction. He is led to 

 the AutHQR of the universe by the thread of the cater- 

 pillar, and he admires in the variety 0f their means, 

 and in their tendency to the same end, the fecundity 

 and wisdom of the ORDAINING MIND. 



This sight becomes still more interesting, when the 

 observer undertakes to bewilder insects, and draw them 

 from their natural track : they then shew him resources 

 which he had not foreseen, and that surpass his expec- 

 tation. When false moths, of the wax species, are in 

 want of wax, they can make galleries of leather, parch- 

 ment, or paper. A caterpillar has been seen to con- 

 struct a cone of little pieces of paper which have been 

 given him, and that have been cut at pleasure : it has 

 taken hold of them with thfc teeth and fore legs, trans- 

 ported them to the place where it intended to fix, 

 ranged them there, fastened them with threads, laid 

 some of them edgewise, others $at ; forming of the 

 whole, it is true, an assemblage that appears a little 

 strange, but answering perfectly to a cone. It would 

 have given it a more regular figure, had it worked with 

 materials suited to its species. Ere \ve had learnt to 

 prepare and dress woollens and skins of animals, the 

 domestic moths were not without clothing ; they were 

 Kg 



