HUMBLE CBEATURES. 



tain its hold with security in any position (PI. VII, 

 figs. 1 Scla). 



Nay, you may even, whUst lounging lazily upor 

 your sofa, watch some little fly that has settled upoD 

 your coat, and is busily engaged in removing the dusi 

 from its wings : you mil notice with -what facility it 

 crosses its hinder legs over the wings, or raises the 

 latter gently from beneath ; and after having effected 

 this cleansing operation, then rubs one leg against 

 the other, to remove any particles of dust from these 

 members also. But are you aware that for this pur- 

 pose its diminutive limbs are covered with numberless 

 hairs, by means of which the insect is enabled as 

 efficiently to remove the dust from its wings or body, 

 as you are from your treasured volumes or pictures 

 with your artificial brush of similar materials ? 



These are two of the numerous evidences revealed 

 to us when we examine the Fly's structure, of the care 

 with which the insect has been endowed with organs 

 that conform perfectly to its mode of existence; 

 showing, that however useless and unimportant it 

 may appear to us, and although we may regard it as 

 a plague in our dweUings,^ yet every provision has 

 been made for its comfort and safety. 



Let us adduce one still more remarkable and in- 

 teresting example : — 



Whilst we possess only two eyes, beautiful and 

 perfect, no doubt, in their construction, the humble 

 Fly is furnished with about 4000 simple, but perfect 

 organs of vision ; and even this number falls far short 



