434 THE PHILOSOPHY 



niency, without their perceiving the utility of their own ope- 

 rations. The caterpillars, whofe manners we have been de- 

 fcribing, fpin alraoft continually, becaufe they are continual- 

 ly obliged to evacuate a filky matter, fecreted from their 

 food by veflels deftined for that purpofe, and included in 

 their inteftincs. In obeying this call of Nature, they effec- 

 tually fecure their retreat to their neft, and perhaps their 

 exigence. It may be faid, that caterpillars aflbciate for no 

 other reafon but becaufe they are all produced at the fame 

 time from eggs depofited near each other. But many other 

 fpecies of caterpillars, who are brought to life in the very 

 fame circumftanccs, never aflbciate or acb in concert in the 

 performance of any mutual labour. The filk-worms alTord 

 a limilar example. It is true, they fpontaneoufly remain 

 aflembled in the fame place, which is of great advantage to 

 manufacture. But the individuals of other fpecies difperfe 

 immediately after birth, and never re-unite. Spiders, when 

 newly hatched, begin with fpinning a web in common j but 

 they foon terminate this aflx)ciation by devouring one another. 



As caterpillars do not engender till they arrive at the but- 

 terfly ftate, their aflx)ciations have no refpect to the rearing 

 or education of young. Self-prefervation and individual 

 conveniency are the only bonds of their union. A perfe^ 

 equality reigns among them, without any dilliincStion of fex, 

 or even of fize. Each takes his (liare of the common labour-, 

 and the whole fociety, which conftitutes but one family, is 

 the genuine iiTuc of the fame mother. 



The aflTociatlon and oeconomy of the common ants merit 

 fome attention. With wonderful induftry and a£livlty they 

 collect materials for the confl:ru<fl:Ion of their ned. They 

 unite in numbers, and afiift each other in excavating the 

 earth, and in tranfporting to their habitation bits of ftraw, 

 fmall pieces of wood, and»other fubftanc'es of a fimilar kind, 

 which they employ in lining and fupporting their fabterra- 



