BOOK OP NATURE LAID OPEN. 87 



the eggs of the Cynips, inserted into the leaves of the 

 oak, produce the caterpillars, which give rise to the 

 galls used in the composition of ink. The greater 

 part of winged insects have a proboscis or trunk, 

 which although not so large, is as wonderfully con- 

 trived as that of the Elephant, and serves the pur- 

 poses of a mouth, a nose, and a windpipe! The 

 proboscis is a machine of a very complicated nature ; 

 and that of a butterfly, when not in quest of food, is 

 rolled up in form of a watch spring. 



The degree of strength and agility which many of 

 the insect tribes possess is amazing. A ilea will 

 draw a chain one hundred times heavier than itself; 

 and the velocity of a mite, in proportion to its size, 

 is said to outstrip that of a race-horse ! With regard 

 to sex, there is one thing very remarkable in this 

 order, viz. that the Bees, the Wasps, and Ants fur- 

 nish an example of a species that belong to neither 

 sex, and so are called neuters ; these however, are 

 not without their uses ; and the affection they evince 

 for the helpless little creatures left to their care, might 

 serve as a lesson to those who are intrusted with the 

 tender charge of infants not their own. 



The last thing we shall mention in this general 

 survey of the insect tribes, is the wonderful transfor- 

 mations many of them undergo in the different 

 stages of an egg, a grub or worm, a cry sails, till they 

 arrive at their most perfect or fly state. 



" Observe the insect race, ordain 'd to keep 

 The lazy sabbath of a half year's sleep. 

 Entomb'd beneath the filmy web they lie, 

 And wait the influence of a kinder sk v . 



