Artimals. 229 



crystalline humour, of which insects are 

 intirely destitute. Larger animals are 

 obliged to turn their eyes towards the ob- 

 ject they wish to behold,but many insects, 

 us flies, have their eyes so constructed as 

 to admit the view of every neighbouring 

 object at once. The numbur of eyes are 

 very different in different insects ; some 

 have only one ; others have two ; spiders 

 have generally eight; and flies have as 

 many as there are perforations in the cor- 

 nea, which are very numerous. Most in- 

 sects are furnished with two antennas, or 

 feelers, which serve to keep their eyes 

 clean. Amphibious insects have their feet 

 formed of flat joints ; and gristles placed 

 on each side of the extremity of the limb, 

 which supply the place of oars, as in the 

 Water- Beetles. Insects formed for leap- 

 ing, as the Cricket and Grasshopper, 

 have strong, brawny, muscular legs; while 

 those who use their claws in perforating 

 the earth, have these members admirably 

 adapted for this purpose. 



Insects and reptiles, though seemingly 

 the most insignificant of animated beings 

 have an important part assigned them to 

 perform in this universe. Though the 



