Microscopical Essays, 215 



larva, and this proceeds from the egg ; fo that here, as in the 

 foregoing inftances, one infect is exhibited in four different ftate s 

 of life, after paffing through three of which, and the various 

 miferies attendant on them, it is advanced to a more perfect (hue. 

 When a larva, it trains a miferable exiftence under the earth : in 

 the pupa form it is deprived of motion, and as it were dead. 

 But the beetle itfelf lives at pleafure above and under ground, 

 and alfo in the air, enjoying a higher ' degree of life, which it has 

 attained by flow progreffion, and paffing through difficulties, 

 affliction, and death. 



If we judge of the rank which the beetle holds in the fcale of 

 animation, from the places where they are generally found, from 

 the food which nourifhes them, from the difgufting and odious 

 forms of many, from their antipathy to light, and their delight 

 in darknefs, we (hall not form great ideas of the dignity of their 

 Situation. But as all things are rendered fubfervient to the laws- 

 of Divine order, it is fufficient for us to contemplate the wonders 

 that are difplayed in this and every other organ of life, for the 

 reception of which, from the fountain and .source of all 

 life, each individual is adapted, and that in a manner corref- 

 ponding to the ftate of exiftence it is to enjoy, and the energies 

 it is called forth to reprefent ; indeed the manner of it's exiftence 

 entirely depends on the degree of life which it is enabled to re- 

 ceive, and the ftate in which that degree is communicated in it's 

 defcent through different orders of being, 



" One is the flood which univerfal flows ; 



And hence the reptile, hence the feraph glows." 



Brooke* 

 The 



