404 SYSTEM OF INSECTS. 
symbols, but as possessed of an inherent divinity: and 
probably the mysteries of Isis in Egypt, and of Ceres at 
Eleusis, were instituted, that this esoteric doctrine, which 
was to be kept secret and sacred from the common peo- 
ple, might not be lost. 
But this kind of analogy is of a higher order than that 
of which I am here principally to speak,—that, namely, 
which the various objects of nature bear to each other. 
This, however, though of a lower rank, is essentially 
connected with the other, and leads to it; for it esta- 
blishes the principle, that created thmgs are representa- 
tive or symbolical: and we find, when we view them in 
this light, that as we ascend from the lowest beings in 
the scale of creation, we are led from one to another till 
we reach the summit or centre of the whole, and are 
thus conducted to the boundaries of this visible and ma- 
terial system; from whence we may conclude that we 
ought not here to stop, but go on to something invisible 
and extra-mundane, as the ultimate object intended to be 
reflected from this great speculum of creation—the Cre- 
Avor himself, and all those spirits, virtues, and powers 
that have emanated from him. : 
The analogies which the various objects of the ani- 
mal kingdom mutually exhibit, have for the most part 
been either overlooked by modern Physiologists, or have 
been mistaken for characters that indicate affinity ; a cir- 
cumstance that has often perplexed or disrupted their 
systems. Dr. Virey appears to have been one of the 
first who obtained a general idea of the parallelism of 
animals in this respect? ;_ and M. Savigny has contrasted 
* N, Dict. d Hist. Nat. xx. 484. comp. ii. 30—. 
