150 



LIFE, IN ITS INTERMEDIATE FORMS. 



tions ; by which word "species'" we mean animals as 

 distinct from each other as the Rat from the Mouse, or 

 the Blackbird from the Thrush ; races of animals, each of 

 which has descended from an original first parent, created 

 distinct and separate at the beginning of the world. 



Insects are composed of rings, or annular segments, 

 like the Annelida ; and a caterpillar, which is an imma- 

 ture butterfly or moth, is much like a Worm ; but in the 

 full-grown Insect we see a manifest condensation of form, 

 the segments being generally compacted together, except 

 at two points, where division is very manifest. Thus, if 

 we look at a Wasp, we see that it is distinctly divided 

 into three portions, the head, the trunk (thorax), and the 

 body (abdomen) ; separated by constrictions so deep as 

 nearly to cut off the mutual connexion of these parts. All 

 perfect or full-grown Insects shew the same divisions, 

 though not commonly so strongly marked. The appella- 

 tions " Insecta" and " Entoma " (whence entomology) have 

 been hence given to the Class, these Latin and Greek 

 terms signifying " cut into/' 



The perfection which is bestowed on the organs of sense 

 in these animals, especially when we consider their minute- 

 ness, is calculated to fill us with adoring admiration of the 

 skill of " the Great Workmaster." Take an example from 

 the eyes, which are of several kinds, evidently designed 

 for distinct modes of vision, of which we, who have but 

 one sort of eyes, can form no adequate notion. The Bee 

 and many other insects have on the crown of the head a 

 number, usually three, of simple glassy eyes, set like 

 " bull's-eyes " in a ship's deck ; and besides these a great 

 compound eye on each side, consisting of a multitude of 



