2o6 THE PHILOSOPHY 



fancy in the larger animals. Different fpecies remain longer or 

 fhorter in the form of worms, caterpillars, or grubs, before they are 

 changed into chryfalids, and afterwards into flies. When young, 

 like other animals, they are fmall and feeble : But, even in their 

 mofl: helplefs condition, with a very few exceptions. Nature is their 

 only nurfe. They require no aid from their parents, who, in gene- 

 ral, are totally unacquainted with their progeny. But, as formerly 

 obferved, when treating of inftindl, the mothers uniformly depofit 

 their eggs in fituations which afford both protedion and nourifh- 

 ment to their young. The parent fly, according to the fpecies, in- 

 variably, unlefs reftrained by neceflity, depofits her eggs upon parti- 

 cular plants, in the bodies of other animals, in the earth, or in wa- 

 ter. Whenever, therefore, an infedt receives exiftence in its primary 

 form, all its wants are fupplied. Though the mother, after the 

 worms iiTue from the eggs, takes no charge of her offspring, and 

 frequently does not exift at the time they come forth, yet, by an 

 unerring and pure infl.in<3:, fhe uniformly places them in fituations 

 where the young find proper nourifhment, and every thing necef- 

 fary to their feeble condition. 



To this general law, by which infeds are governed, there are fe- 

 veral exceptions. Bees, and fome other flies, not only conflrud 

 nefts for their young, but adually feed, and moft anxioufly proted 

 them. 



From what has been faid concerning the infancy of animals, one 

 general remark merits attention. Nature has uniformly, though by 

 various modes, provided for the nourifhment and prefervation of all 

 animated beings while they are in an infantine (late. Though the 

 human fpecies continues long in that fl:ate, the attachment and folli- 

 citude of both parents, inilead of abating, in proportion to the time 

 and labour bellowed on their progeny, conftantly augment, and 



commonly 



