Microscopical Essays, 257 



Where there are a number crowded together, they of courfe inter- 

 fere with each other, in which cafe they will frequently depofit 

 their eggs on other parts of the branches. 



It is highly probable that the aphides derive considerable ad- 

 vantages by living in fociety ; the reiterated punttures of a great 

 number of them may attract a larger quantity o f nutritious 

 juices to that part of the tree, or plant, where they have taken 

 up their abode. 



In the natural hiftory of infects, new objects of furprize are 

 continually rifmg before the obferver: fingular as we have 

 already {hewn is the production of the puceron, that of the bee 

 will not be found to be iefs fo ; and though this little republic has 

 at all times gained uniVerfaf efteem and admiration, though they 

 have attracted the attention of the mofi ingenious and laborious 

 inquirers into- nature, yet the mode of propagating their fpecies 

 feems to have baffled the ingenuity of ages, and rendered their 

 attempts to difcover it abortive > even the labours and fcrupulous 

 attention of Swammerdam were unfuccefsful- ; though, while he 

 was writing his treatife on bees, his daily labour began at fix in 

 the morning, and from that hour till: twelve he continued watch- 

 ing their operations, his head in a manner diffolving into fweat, 

 under the irrefiftible ardour of the fun ; and if he defifted at noon 5 

 it was only becaufe his eyes then became too weak, as well from 

 the extraordinary afflux of light and the ufe of glalfes, to con- 

 tinue longer exercifed by fuch minute objects. He fpent one 

 month entirely in examining, defcribing, and reprefenting their 

 interlines ; and many months on other parts : employing whole 

 days in making obfervations, and whole nights in regillering. 



I i them, 



