, 



the^ 



Animals. 225 



V. Insects. Insects and animals of 

 e worm kind, seem to form the lowest 

 order among the various tribes of living 

 creatures which inhabit our globe. The 

 distinguishing characters of insects are, 

 that their bodies are covered with 'i 

 of bony substance instead of &1 ; 

 their heads furnished with 

 horns. An insect, may moi ;.- 

 ly be defined a small animal w, 

 blood, (this matter being, white a 

 bones, or cartilages ; furnished 

 trunk, or else a mouth, which d 

 length ways, contrary to the natural or- 

 der ; the eyes destitute of covering ; and 

 lungs opening on the sides of the body. 

 This definition will comprehend the 

 whole class of insects of every descrip- 

 tion. This class of beings is so numerous, 

 and so various, as to exceed the most 

 accurate and unwearied observations. 

 To give the different species of only flies 

 and moths, would be a fruitless attempt ; 

 but to give the history of every species 

 of insect would be utterly impracticable ; 

 so varied are they in their forms, sizes, 

 habitudes, methods of propagation, and 

 manners and duration of life. A gener* 

 T2 



