OP INSECTS IN GENERAL. 335 



Sect. IV. — Of the External Fart a and ClaJJical Charac- 

 ters of ivJeBs, 



Insects have always been confidered as a diftincl clafs 

 of the animal kingdom, though naturalills have not 

 agreed in afcertaining its limits. The fiiades of nature 

 are indeed intimately blended together ; and thofe links 

 by which llie connedls different portions of her animated 

 oiFspring, are often fmall and imperceptible. The infei3: 

 tribe comprehends thofe fraail animals which are deflitute 

 of red blood, bones, and cartilages ; which are furnillied 

 with a mouth, or elL'e a trunk, opening lengthwife ; and 

 which breathe by means of fligmata, or apertures upon 

 the external parts of the body. They have obtained the 

 name of infecls from the frequent incifions by which 

 their bodies are apparently divided into feveral parts or 

 fegments. 



The body of thefe animals is divided by naturalifts 

 into a head, thorax, abdomen, and limbs. The head is, 

 for the mod part, diflinft from the thorax, being attach- 

 ed to it only by a flender tendon, and is furniihed with 

 eyes, palpi, and antennae, which v/e have already feen 

 are the organs of the different fenfes. This whole tribe 

 of animals is fuppofed by Lin?usus to be deflitute of 

 brains *. 



The antennae are organs peculiar to infe£ls ; and ac- 

 cording to their various forms and proportions, afford 



fyltematip 



* Vide Syflema Natura, Tom. I. Part I. p. 533, 



