^[$ THE PHILOSOPHY 



into chryfiilids, and afterwards into flies. When young, like 

 other animals, they are fmall and feeble : But, even in their 

 nioft helplefs condition, with a very few exceptions, Nature 

 is their only nurfe. They require no aid from their parents, 

 who, in general, are tiK^tally unacquainted with their progeny. 

 But, as formerly obfcrved, when treating of inftincV, ihe 

 mothers uniformly dcpoiit their eggs in Situations which af- 

 ford both proteclion and nouriiliment to their young. The 

 parent fly, according to the fpecies, invariably, unlefs retrain- 

 ed by neceflity, depofits her eggs upon particular plants, 

 in the bodies of otlier animals, in the eartli, or in water. 

 Whenever, therefore, an infect receives exifience in its pri^ 

 mary form, all its v/ants are fupplied. Though the motlier, 

 after the worms iffuc from the eggs, takes no charge of her 

 offspring, and frequently does not exifl at the time they come 

 forth, vet, by an unerring and pure inftinct, fiic uniformly 

 places them in fituations where the young find proper nour- 

 ilhment, and every thing neceiTary to their feeble condition. 



To this general law, by which infects are governed, there 

 are feveral exceptions. Bees, and fom.e other files, not only 

 confl:ru(St nefls for their young, but adlually feed, and moil 

 anxioufly protect them. 



From what has been faid concerning the Infancy of ani- 

 mals, one general remark merits attention. Nature has uni- 

 formly, though by various modes, provided for the nourlfli- 

 ment and prefervation of all animated beings while they are 

 in an infantine ftate. Though the human fpecies continues 

 long in that flate, the attachment and folicitude of both 

 parents, inftead of abating, in proportion to the time and la- 

 bour beflowed on their progeny, conflantly augment, and 

 commonly remain during life. The reciprocal affeclion of 

 parents and children is one of the greatefl fources of human 

 liappinefs. If the love of children were not flrong, and 

 if it did not increafe with time the labour, the confirant 



