NATURAL THEOLOGY. 349 



coveries made by naturalists seem to favour this 

 supposition. The insect ah-eady equipped with 

 wings, is descried under the membranes both of 

 the worm and nymph. In some species the pro- 

 boscis, the antennae, the limbs, and wings of the 

 fly have been observed to be folded up within the 

 body of the caterpillar, and with such nicety as to 

 occupy a small space only under the two first wings. 

 This being so, the outermost animal which, be- 

 sides its own proper character, serves as an in- 

 tegument to the other two, being the farthest ad- 

 vanced, dies, as w^e suppose, and drops off first. 

 The second, the pupa or chrysalis, then ofl?ers it- 

 self to observation. This also, in its turn, dies ; 

 its dead and brittle husk falls to pieces, and makes 

 way for the appearance of the fly or moth. Now 

 if this be the case, or indeed whatever explication 

 be adopted, we have a prospective contrivance of 

 the most curious kind; we have organizations 

 three deep, yet a vascular system which supplies 

 nutrition, growth and life to all of them together. 

 VI. Almost all insects are oviparous. Nature 

 keeps her butterflies, moths, and catterpillars lock- 

 ed up during the winter in their egg-state ; and 

 we have to admire the various devices to which, if 

 we may so speak, the same nature hath resorted 

 for the security of the egg. Many insects inclose 

 their eggs in a silken web; others cover them 

 with a coat of hair torn from their own bodies; 

 some glue them together; and others, like the 

 moth of the silk-worm, glue them to the leaves 



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