OF NATURAL HISTORY. 83 



Having finiflied this fketch of the ftrufture and organs of fiflies, 

 it is almoft needlefs to remark, that, though they live in a different 

 ekment, and vary greatly from land-animals in figure, Nature, in 

 the formation of their bodies, in the mode of their nutrition, refpi- 

 ration, and fenfation, has aded upon the fame great and general 

 plan. 



We are now to take a view of the ftrudure of infeds, a nume- 

 rous clafs of animals, moft of whom recede farther from the com- 

 mon mode of animal organization than any of the other clafles. 



OF THE STRUCTURE OF INSECTS. 



In the firft chapter, a few obfervations were made concerning the 

 ftrudture and organs of infedts, in order to fliow more clearly the 

 analogies between animals and vegetables. Thefe it is unneceflary 

 to repeat. We fhall therefore proceed to a more particular exami- 

 nation of the ftrudure of infeds, and to trace the connedion be- 

 tween that and their manners, 



Infedls exhibit fuch an immenfe variety in figure, colour, and 

 difpofition of parts, that Naturalifts have found it neceffary to ar- 

 range them into different tribes or families. Thefe tribes are di- 

 ftinguifhed from one another by certain peculiarities in the ftrudure 

 of their bodies. 



The moft general divifion of infeds is derived from the circum- 

 flance of their having or wanting wings, and from the number and 

 fubftances of which thefe inftruments of motion are compofed. 

 They are diftinguifhed from all other animals by many peculiarities 



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