WAYS OF INSECTS. 279 



as the first man Adam was ; yet is there a care ma- 

 nifested for the preservation and accommodation of 

 these, which we often designate as contemptible 

 creatures, that is most elaborate and wonderful. 

 The forethought with which many of them have 

 been furnished to deposit their eggs in safety from 

 the contingencies of seasons and hostile incidents, 

 and precisely in the situation most fitting, must call 

 forth the admiration of all who have observed it. 

 Some of these are lodged in summer and autumn 

 deep in the earth, on that part of a plant which in 

 due time is to be raised up, constituting a stalk or 

 blade, bearing with it by gentle steps these eggs, 

 to be vivified by the summer's air and warmth. 

 Others fix them on some portion of an herb hidden 

 beneath the mud in the pool ; and this being ele- 

 vated by the warmth of spring, conveys them with 

 its growth above the element that protected them, 

 and they hatch, the infants feeding on the substance 

 that has borne them to the air. In their chrysalis 

 state, a cradle of preparation for a final change, the 

 same wisdom and care are more particularly obvious 

 from their size and frequent occurrence : but to en- 

 large sufficiently upon the contrivances and mani- 

 festations of regard brought to our observance in 

 all the stages of an insect's life, would almost re- 

 quire a detail of the race. 



A particularly curious covering for a moth, or 

 butterfly, (phalasna pavonia?) fell into my hands, 

 which might be well known to a more experienced 



