334 0^ iXSECTS IN GENERAL. 



objefts on which they alight, feem employed, like the 

 fnout of 3 hog, in fearching for food, and examining the 

 quality of the diiFerent kinds of fuftenance by which they 

 are fupported. The beetles, and other tribes viho^Q palpi 

 are large, are proper fubjefts for examining the organs of 

 fmell in this clafs of beings ; and an accurate invclliga- 

 tion of their manners would probably juftify the forego- 

 ing conjectures with regard to the ufes of the feelers, and 

 determine how far they poffeis this fenfe. 



The organs of vifion among mofl kinds of infeiEls are 

 large ; a circumdance which has put their fenfe of fee- 

 ing beyond a doubt. The eyes are commonly two in 

 number, each frequently confifting of a congeries or af- 

 femblage of lentes. covered with a cruftaceous tranfparent 

 fubftance, to protedl them from injury. The organs 

 which have been allotted to hearing and fmell, are alfo 

 proteded from dull, and the fmaller particles of thofe 

 fubftances to which they are applied : Their extremities 

 are not patulous, but ciliated, like thofe of the mole, to 

 prevent them trom being ch'gged or injured by the in- 

 trufion of furrounding objeds. Hence it appears, that 

 thouo-h infects are delline.1 to fill a fubordinate Itation in 

 the animal kingdom, yet nature has by no means ne- 

 gl<;6led them, but furniflied them with organs wonder* 

 fully adapted to their humble purCuits, and to that tran« 

 fieat exiilence which flie has aiu^ned them. 



