814 CLASS VI. VERMES. 



it has arrived at its moth state, ceases to feed, and can 

 scarcely fly : it endeavours only to perpetuate its race ; 

 after which the male immediately dies, and is followed by 

 the female as soon as she has deposited her eggs. In some 

 kinds of insects, however, as bees, a third sex exists, 

 called neuters. These, of course, are unprolific, and seem 

 destined to be drudges to that part of the family, whose 

 .business it is to attend to the propagation of the species. 



CLASS VI VERMES, or WORMS. 



WE have now arrived at the lowest class of animated 

 nature, and perceive the last link in the GRAND CHAIN. 

 To determine precisely where animal life terminates and 

 vegetable commences, as was observed at the outset of 

 this work, is confessedly difficult ; perhaps it is not neces- 

 sary for the advancement of science. It is enough, if the 

 various productions of nature are distinctly noticed, and 

 described with tolerable exactness. It may indeed amuse 

 the speculative to enquire in what respect a zoophite re- 

 sembles an animal, and what relation it bears to a plant ; 

 but, with regard to the enlargement of the mind, or the 

 valuable purposes of life (the great ends to which all our 

 studies should be directed), this investigation appears to 

 be of little importance. 



Worms are distinguished by having only one ventricle 

 to the heart, no auricle, and a cold colourless sanies, 

 instead of blood. They are particularly discriminated 

 from insects by having tentacles, whereas the latter have 

 antennae. They are likewise still more imperfect than that 

 class : they are mostly destitute of heads, of eyes, and 

 other organs of sense ; if cut, they are capable of re- 

 production ; and the locomotive power in a great number 

 of them is very limited indeed. 



