ins; 
■ver found in Infefts. Spiders have generally , 
eight eyes; and flies may be faid to have as many 
organs of fight as there are perforations in the cor- 
nea, or external covering of the eye. Animals in 
general are obliged to turn their eyes different v/ays 
to behold objefts; but thofe of files are fo con- 
■trivedj as to admit every neighbouring objeft at 
once. In order to keep their eyes clean, they are 
provided with two antenns or feelers : fome, how- 
ever, are of opinion, that they cleanfe their eyes 
Yv'ith their fore-legs as well as leelers; nor does 
this coniefture feem ill founded, when we confider 
that in fomic forts, particularly the flefh-fly, the 
feelers are too fhort to anfwer this purpofe, and 
therefore the legs alone can fupply this dcfeft. 
Nor does the mechanifm of their, feet lefs deferve 
■our attention. The hind-legs of am.phibious In- 
fers, fuch as water-beetles, which are fometimes 
obliged to live on land as well as in the water, are 
formed with com.modious flat joints ; while griftles, 
which are placed at the extremity of the limb on 
each fide, fupply the place of oars. In thofe In- 
fefts whofe m^otions are performed by leaping, 
fuch as the gralhopper and the cricket, the legs 
are ftrong and brawny; thofe, on the contrary, 
which ufe their claws in perforating the earth, 
have fuch members adapted, by their ftrength and 
fwiftnefs, for that purpofe. There are even fome 
Infedlr. which tranfport diemfelves from one place 
to another in a manner vdioliy unknov/n; thofe 
generated in ftagnant waters are often found in 
new pits and ponds, and fometimes on the tops of 
houfes and fpires; and fpiders frequently foar with 
their webs to the fummits of the m.ofl; lofty edifices. 
Sucii Infedts as are furniflied with w'ings, have 
tendons to expand nnd fl:rengthenthem : thofe v/hich 
are provided with four, as the ephemera fly, ufe 
the uctermofl pair rather as cafes to defend the in- 
terior wings, than as auxiliaries in flight. When 
the Infc£l is at reil, the inner wings ai-e generally 
clofed up; nor is it without fome efforts that the 
little animal is able to unfold them. Such Inlt^cls 
as have only two wings, are fupplied with two lit- 
tle balls, or poifers, joined to the body under the 
hinder part of each v/ing, which ferve to keep them 
Heady, and in fome m.eafure counteraft the changes 
of the air, which at every variation might carry 
them off in it's current. If one of the balancers 
be cut off, the Infe£l will foon fall to the ground; 
but if both of them be cut av;ay, it v/ill ftill con- 
tinue to fly, though at the direction of every 
breeze. 
Almoft all forts of Infects are generated, like 
larger animals, from eggs; and thefe are at firfl: in- 
clofed in a fingle or double covering, which opens 
when the animal is old and ilrong enough to pierce 
through it. When the young break their cover- 
ings at their firfl: ingrefs into the world, the pa- 
rents are faid to be viviparous; as for infliance, the 
millepedes: when the old ones bring forth their 
young in a covering where they are doomed to re- 
main fome time, like tlie filk-worpj, they are faid 
10 be oviparous. 
Infefts of the oviparous kind ahvays depofit 
their eggs in proper places, where they v.ic hatched 
by a requifitc degree of heat. No Infefts abandon 
their eggs to chance; nor are they ever iriifl:aken 
in laying them in fuch fituaticns where they may 
receive proper nourifliment as foon as they are 
hatched. Thofe caterpillars winch feed on cab- 
bages, are never found on willows; nor fuch as 
feed on v>/ilIows, on cabbages.. The moth delights 
I N S--- 
to lodge among woollen fluffs, or papers; but ne- 
ver takes up it's refldence on plants, nor in mud. 
Hence it is evident, that inftind, not chance, di- 
refts their choice. 
When fome of thefe eggs are hatched, the young'' 
appear in their perfcd and permanent fhape; but 
the greater number of Infefts pafs through difle- 
rent ftates, and fucccfllvely affume the figure of 
two or three animals which have no refemblance to 
each other. From the egg of the gnat proceed di- 
vers animalcula, which pafs through three diffe- 
rent ftates : in the firfr place, they live in the wa- 
ter; then they change to amphibious animals; and, 
laRiy, they becoine denizens of the fky. 
Summer is the time fuited to the pleafures of 
Infe6ls: few of them live more than a fingle fea- 
fon; and fome only a few hours. Such, however, 
as are long-lived, take the neceffary pr-ecautions to 
provide for their fafety and fubfiftence during the 
Vi'inter, fixing on the moft • convenient fituations 
for fpending that interval, and laying in a fufficient 
quantity of food. But the greatefl: number fleep 
during the continuance of the cold feafon, and 
therefore do not ftand in need of provifions. Some 
caterpillars, for inftance, having fed during the 
fumiTier, retire, at the approach of winter, to places 
of fecurity; where fpinning threads like cobwebs, 
they fufpend themfelves, covered with fiftitious 
coats, which at once ferve to keep them warm and 
to guard them from external injuries: in this tor- 
pid ffate they continue till the returning fun calls 
them to new life; then they expand their wings, 
and feem wholly employed in propagating their 
kind. 
There are fome Infeds, however, which lay up 
provifions for tiie winter; of which the bee, and 
the ant of foreign countries, are remarkable in- 
ftances. The wafp, the hornet, and the wild bee, 
are no lefs affiduous in laying in a proper flock of 
food, and fitting up commodious apartments: but 
this is wholly for the fake of their young; for thev 
defert their nefcs in winter, leave their offspring 
furnilhed v/ith every convenience, and retire to 
feme other fituations, where it is probable they 
live without food. 
But notv/ithftanding the admirable habits and 
inftinfts obfervable in the Infeft tribes, it muft be 
confeffed, that in every refpeft they deferve to be 
confidered as the laft: and loweft rank in animated 
nature. As, in mechanics, the mofl: complicated 
iTiachines are required to perform, the niceft ope- 
rations; fo, in anatomiy, the nobleft animals are 
mofl: varioufly and wonderfully made. Of all liv- 
ing exiftences, m^an exhibits the moft aftonifhing 
variety in his internal conformadon; quadrupeds 
next fucceed; and other animals follow in propor- 
tion to their powers and excellencies. Infefts, of 
all others, fecrn to be the moft imperfetSlly formed ; 
many of tliem will live a confiderable time after 
being deprived of thofe organs which are effen- 
tially neceffary to life in the higher ranks of na- 
ture; and the caterpillar will continue to exift 
when deprived even of it's heart and lungs. 
But it is not from their conformation alone that 
Infedls are inferior to other afiimals, but from their 
inftindls alfo. It is true tliat the ant and the bee 
prefent us with very ftriking iriftanccs of affiduity 
and forefightj but they fall very fliort of thofe 
proofs of fagacity difplayed by the hound or the 
horfe. A bee> when Separated from the fwarm, is 
totally helplefs, inacftive, and incapable of giving 
the fmalkft variations to it's inftincls: it has bu.c 
■ ' ^ on? 
