OF.NiiTURAL HISTORY. 429 



as v\^ell as other animals, are aiSluated by motives, or impulfes, 

 it is willingly allowed. But thefe are not mechanical impul- 

 fes. They are the wife and irrefiftible impulfes of Nature 

 upon their minds. If bees did not affociate, and mutually 

 affifl: one another in their various operations, the fpecies 

 would foon be annihilated. Not one of them, it is probable, 

 would furvive the firft winter. But Nature ever folicitous 

 for the prefervation of her produftions, has endowed their 

 minds with an afTociating principle, and with inftindts which 

 ftimulate them to perform all thofe wonderful operations 

 that are neceffary for the exiftence of individuals, and the 

 continuation of the fpecies. 



What are called the common caterpillars afford an inftance of 

 proper afTociation. About the middle of furamer, a butter- 

 fly depoiits from three to four hundred eggs on the leaf of 

 a tree, from each of which, in a few days, a young caterpil- 

 lar proceeds. They are no fooner hatched than they begin 

 to form a common habitation. They fpin filken threads, 

 which they attach to one edge of the leaf, and extend them 

 to the other. By this operation they make the two edges 

 of the leaf approach each other, and form a cavity refem- 

 bling a hammock. In a fhort time, the concave leaf is com- 

 pletely roofed with a covering of filk. Under this tent the 

 animals live together in mutual friendlhip and harmony. 

 When not difpofed to eat or to fpin, they retire to their tent. 

 It requires feveral of thefe habitations to contain the whole. 

 According as the animals increafe in iize, the number of 

 their tents is augmented. But thefe are only temporay and 

 partial lodgements, conflrudled for mutual conveniency, till 

 the caterpillars are in a condition to build one more fpacious, 

 and which will be fufficient to contain the whole. After 

 gnawing one half of the fubftance of fuch leaves as happen 

 to be near the end of fome twig or fmall branch, they begin 

 their great work. In conftrufling this new edifice or neft. 



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