WAYS OF ^SECTS. lot 



Vision for a seemingly mean and worthless purpose, as* 

 is bestowed upon a higher and apparently more worthy 

 object. We consider insects as one of the lower orders 

 of creation, but are as perfectly unacquainted, generally 

 speaking, with the objects of their being, though they 

 have for ages crawled and winged their way around us, 

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

 fested 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 de- 

 posit 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, consti- 

 tuting 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 

 elevated by the warmth of spring, conteys 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 enlarge sufficiently 

 upon the contrivances and manifestations of regard 

 brought to our observance in all the stages of an insect'^ 

 life, would almost require a detail of the race. 



A particularly curious covering for a moth, or butter, 

 fly, (phalaena pavonia?) fell into my hands, which might 

 be well known to a more experienced entomologist, 

 but was new to me. The species I do not know, as it 

 never arrived at perfection. This case was formed of 

 the fine silky substance that wraps up so many of the 

 race. The summit for some cause was less closed than 

 usual ; but to obviate any injury to the creature from 

 this circumstance, a conical hood of similar materials 

 was placed over the exposed part of the aurelia, through 



