38 DEFINITION OF THE TERM INSECT. 



From this table you see that several insects included 

 in it exceed some of the smallest Vertebrata in bulk. In 

 the Mammalia, the Sorex Araneus, called by the common 

 people here the Ranny, is not more than two inches 

 long excluding the tail ; and the Mus messorius, or har- 

 vest-mouse, peculiar to the southern counties of England, 

 is still more diminutive : so that to these little animals, 

 the larger Dynastidce, Goliathi, and Prioni, &c, appear 

 giants, and may compete with the mole in size. Even some 

 of the beetles of our own country, as the great Hydrophi- 

 lus, the stag-beetle, &c, are more bulky than the two 

 first-named quadrupeds. Amongst the birds, many Piece, 

 Passeres, &c, yield to several insects in dimensions, and 

 their wings when expanded do not extend so far as those 

 of not a few Lepidoptera. The great owl-moth of Brazil 

 {Erebus Strix) in this respect is a larger fowl than the 

 quail. Those beautiful little creatures, the humming- 

 birds (Trochilus L.), the peculiar ornament and life of 

 tropical gardens, which emulate the most splendid but- 

 terflies in the brilliancy of their plumage, are smaller 

 than a considerable number of insects in almost every 

 order, and even than some of those that are natives of 

 Britain. Various reptiles also are much inferior in size 

 to many of the insects of the above table. The smallest 

 lizard of this country would be outweighed by the great 

 British beetles lately mentioned, and the mole-cricket 

 {Gryllotalpa vulgaris); and some of the serpent tribe are 

 smaller than the larger Scolopend?*a and Iuli. Amongst 

 thejishes also, though some are so enormous in bulk, 

 others in this respect yield the palm to several insects. 

 The minnow and the stickleback that frequent our own 

 pools and streams are considerably inferior in size to 

 some of our water beetles. 



