2 3 8 



Ml CROSCOPICAL E'S'S AYS, 



endeavour to inveftigate this fubject, the more we find it is 

 enveloped in darknefs. 



Whilft the powers of life are employed conformable to the 

 laws of Divine Providence, to change the vifcera, and give them a 

 new form, they are alfo unfolding divers other organs, which were 

 ufelefs to the infecl while in the larva ftate, but which are 

 neceffary to that which fucceeds. That thefe interior operations 

 of life may be carried on with greater energy, the animal is 

 thrown into a kind of Deep; during this period, the corpus 

 crafium is diftributed into all the parts, in order to bring them 

 to perfection, while the evaporation of the fuperfluous humours 

 makes way for the elements of the fibres to approach each other, 

 and unite more clofely. The little wounds in the infide, which 

 have been occafioned by the rupture of the veflels, are gradually 

 confolidated ; thofe parts which had been violently exercifed, 

 recover their tone, and the circulating fluids infenfibly find their 

 new channel. Laftly, many veflels are effaced, and turned into 

 a liquid fediment, which is rejected by the .perfect. infe£L 



When thefe various changes are. considered, we are furprized 

 at the fingularity of the means the Author of nature has 

 made choice of, in order to bring the different fpecies of animals 

 to perfection ; and are apt to <i(k, why the caterpillar was not 

 born a moth? why it pafies through the larva and pupa fiate? 

 why all infects -that are transformed do not undergo the fame 

 change ? Thefe, and a variety of :qu ell ions that may be fiarted 

 concerning the effe and effence of thofe exiftences which appear 

 before us, derive their folution from the general fyfrem which is 

 unknown to us. If all were to arrive at perfection at once, the 



chain 



