INSECTA—LOUSE. 821 
wusceptible of different sensations, my admiration of the Supreme Intelli- 
ence 1s much more heightened than by the contemplation of the structure 
of the most gigantic animals.” ‘ We attach, and with reason,” says Reau- 
mur, “‘a kind of consequence to the knowledge of the faults and perfections 
of the productions in the fine arts, such as poetry, music, painting, sculp- 
ture, and architecture; but of the works of the Lord of nature, of this 
Master of masters, we scarcely think, or that there is any thing wonderful 
in their structure. There can indeed be no room for criticism, where there 
is nothing but what is admirable, and where the most perfect finite intelli- 
gences, the more they study such objects, the more they discover of their 
wonders. Yet this knowledge, so well’calculated to elevate the mind, and 
lead it to the contemplation of the source from which all these wonders pro- 
ceed, 1s regarded by many as frivolous, or of little importance. But he who 
looks upon an insect as merely a particle of moving wood, or putrid matter, 
and who has no idea of the marvellous organs of these minute animals, is 
in a state of ignorance far more gross and blameable, than the man who 
should confound the most finished productions in the fine arts, with the most 
rude and shapeless masses.” 

Pe TOs 
In examining the human louse with the microscope, its external deformity 
first strikes us with disgust ; the shape of the fore part of the head is some- 
what oblong; that of the hind part somewhat round; the skin is hard, and, 
being stretched, transparent, with here and there several bristly haus; in 
the fore part is a proboscis or sucker, which is seldom visible; on each side 
of the head are antennz or horns, each divided into five joints, covered with 
bristly hair; and several white vessels are seen through these horns; behind 
these are the eyes, which seem to want those divisions observable in other 
msects, and appear encompassed with some few hairs; the neck is very 
short, and the breast is divided into three parts; on each side of which are 
placed six legs, consisting of six joints covered also with bristly hairs; the 
ends of the legs are armed with two smaller and larger ruddy claws, serving 
those insects as a finger and thumb, by which they catch hold of such ob- 
jects as they approach; the end of the body terminates in a cloven tail, 
while the sides are all over hairy ; the whole resembling clear parchmeat, 
and, when roughly pressed, cracking with a noise. 
When we ‘ake a closer view, its white veins, and other internal parts, 
appear; as likewise a most wonderful motion in its intestines, from the 


1 Pediculus humanus, Lin. The order Parasita, under which this genus comes, has 
six fect and ne wings; abdomen destitute of articulated and moveable appendages ; twu 
or four sinall eyes; mouth in a great many, interior, presenting externally, either a snout 
or nipper. inclosing a retractile sucker, or two membranous lips with hooked mandibles 
69* 
