33 « tF INSECTS IN GENERAL. 



of her animated offspring. The plants and vegetables 

 which cover the furface of the earth, and which at firfl 

 fight appear fo far to outnumber the other produftions 

 of nature, upon a clofer invelligation, are found far in- 

 ferior in number and variety to the infe^ls which fwarni 

 in the wider range of the air, the earth, and the water. 



From thefs confiderations, we are induced to believe, 

 that the degree of iatelHgence allotted to this ciafs of the 

 animal kingdom is but very fmall ; and our experience, 

 as far as it goes, coincides with this opinion. While 

 other animals are capable of fome degree of education, 

 thcfe have one invariable mode of operating, which no 

 art can either alter or improve. The dog is taught to 

 carry; the bird to wliiitle a tune; but thofe inf-dts; 

 which may be coniidered as couipleteiy domeliicated, can 

 by no invention be turned trom their inltincl. Ihe iiik. 

 worm completes its labours, and the ([jider conftru^is its 

 yvcb, invariably in tlie lame manner : An exillence which 

 continues but a fingle feafon, fecms too iliort tor the pur- 

 pofes of inllruflion, or of learning Hence the infedls 

 are not only ol a rank ii^ferior to the other animals, but 

 inany of them feem more nearly allied to the vegetables 

 than to the claiTes above them. Many are attached to 

 one vegetable, fome to a fingle leaf, where the period of 

 their lives is completed in a few weeks, or perhaps a 

 few days, and where the pleafures they enjoyed, or the 

 purpofes for which they were produced, are in a great 

 meaiure beyond the reach of our faculties to explore. 



The external fenfes of infecls, as far as we are enabled 

 to judge of them, corrcipond with the low meafure of 

 fagacity which the Author of natuie has affigned them: 

 Of fome of them they feem altogether deftitute, while 

 others are enjoyed but in an imperfeft manner. It has 

 3 ■ long 



