328 OF INSECTS IN GENERAE. 



go, are fo uniform, and that fucceffion of aclloris ^hicH 

 we fee them perform, are fo little varied, that nature 

 feems to have dellined them to aft a fubordinate part in 

 the great republic of animals. If their hiftory fometimes 

 exhibits them varying their procedure, and accommodat- 

 ing themfelves to circumftances, the fphere of their ad- 

 drefs feems to be confined within narrow limits ; and it 

 is feldom that they attracl our admiration by any extra- 

 ordinary efforts of fagacity. The bee and the ant prefent 

 llriking inftances of affiduity in labour ; they have, how- 

 ever, but one fingle method of operating, and, withdrawn 

 from that, can turn to no other. A bee taken out of the 

 hive is totally helplefs and ina£live ; far frciti difplaying 

 the fagacity of the dog, it feems incapable of giving the 

 fmalleil variation to its inftinfts. Pn the purfuits of the 

 latter animal, there appears fomething like choice; in the 

 jtabours of the former, the whole appears like neceffity or 

 compulfion *. 



The conformation cf the whole infeft tribe feems alfo 

 to argue its inferiority to many other parts of animated 

 nature. In the external and internal ftrudure of the 

 body of one of thefe fmali animals, where every membet 

 appears completely formed, and co-operates with the reft 

 in carrying on the vital functions, there is no doubt dif- 

 played a very wonderful organization. Infe£ts, however^ 

 of all animals, are perhaps the moft imperfedly formed ; 

 nor is this aiTertion founded on any inveftigation made 

 upon thefe minute creatures by means of the eye, or the 

 knife of the anatcmiil ; it is obvioufly deducible from 

 their capacity of fubfifting after being deprived of many 

 OL tliofe members and organs, which, in the higher ranks 



of 



• Goldfmith's Nat, Hiftory, Vc!. VII. p. 2,36. 



