CHAP. V. DEFENCES OP INSECTS. 151 



bestowed proportionate means of defence to their size. 

 The elephant can master and repel all others of its 

 class, except, perhaps, some of the large Carnivora. The 

 rhinoceros, in like manner, is one of the lords of the 

 animal creation ; while the bulky hippopotamus, al- 

 though armed but with short tusks, is exposed, by its 

 aquatic habits, to fewer injuries than are any of its 

 congeners. But when we descend to the mouse, we 

 see an animal whom hundreds of its own class could 

 exterminate, had not Nature given to it a degree of 

 caution and timidity which cannot be traced among the 

 larger animals. On the same principle of giving se- 

 curity to the weak, by excessive caution, or by cunning 

 devices, do we see that Nature has proceeded in her 

 care of the insect world. These innumerable hosts of 

 living creatures, exposed to a thousand dangers from 

 the larger animals which prey upon them, no less than 

 from foes belonging to their own tribe, are, nevertheless, 

 protected, in a wonderful manner, by habits, by struc- 

 tures, and by devices the most extraordinary. These, 

 as we have before explained, may be chiefly referred to 

 the two heads of active and passive, or direct and in- 

 direct defences. The former, as most obvious, will 

 first claim our attention. 



(172.) " The active means of defence," observes Mr. 

 Kirby, " which tend to secure insects from injury or 

 attack, are much more numerous and diversified than 

 the passive ; they are also more interesting, since they 

 depend more or less upon the efforts and industry of 

 the creatures themselves." * When urged by a sense 

 of danger, they assume various forms; emit noises, 

 scents, or fluids ; or boldly attack their adversaries with 

 natural weapons, with which, for such purposes, they 

 are armed. All modes of defence are comprised under 

 these three divisions ; but we shall follow the indus- 

 trious authors who have already so ably treated this 

 subject, by considering the active defences made by in- 

 sects under the following heads : 1st, by attitudes; 



* Int to Ent voL ii. p. 232. 

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