W I N G L E S S I N S E C T S. 263 



pillar that cats, and often cafts its ikin, of which when diverted for the 

 laft time, it aflumes a new covering, called a chryfalis (or the cone in the 

 filk-wornr)), in which it continues hidden till it comes forth a perfeft 

 moth or butterfly. 



The fourth order is thofe winged infefls which come from a worm, not 

 a caterpillar, yet go through changes fimilar to. thofe of moths and but- 

 terflies. They quit the egg as a worm, then become a chryfalis ; in 

 fome, their wings and legs are fecn ; in others, the animal is detached 

 from the cone which conceals it ; but all break their prifon, and come 

 out perfect winged animals j fome with two wings, Ibme with four. The 

 wings of thefe differ from thofe of the butterfly and moth kind, by not 

 having mealy fcales. In this clafs we may place the numerous tribes qf 

 gnats, beetles, bees, and flies. 



After Infe£ts follow a numerous tribe, that may be propagated bydif- 

 fedlion. Some, though cut into an hundred parts, retain fuch life in 

 each, that every part (hortly becomes a perfect animal. They feem 

 placed between animals and vegetables, and to conneft animated and 

 infenfible nature. To this clafs belong the earth-worm, the fea-nettle, 

 and the polypus. Thefe are not properly infeds j but feem with pro- 

 priety to follow them, in the general order of nature. 



WINGLESS INSECTS. 



IN general, all animals refembling the flea, the loufe, the fpider, the 

 bug, the wood-loufe, the water- loufe, and the fcorpion, never ac- 

 quire wings, but are produced from the egg in that form which they 

 never change. 



This clals is, in general, longer lived than others, often continuing 

 their term beyond one feafon, which is the ordinary period of infecft ex- 

 iftence. They feem alfo lefs fubjc<51: to the influence of the weather, and 

 often endure winter without torpidity. Sometimes the young burfl: the 

 fhell within the parent's body, and are brought forth alive. This is not 

 unfrcquent with the wood-loufe, and others, which fometimes produce 

 eggs, fometimes young perfedly formed. 



Thefe creatures often, during their exiftence, change their fkin, in 

 common with many animals. Their fl^ins, if comparcd.to their ftrength 



Part VI. No, 30. Y y and 



