JOS 
ISI 
one fingle method of operation; and, if taken froin 
that, can have recourfe to no other. In tlie pur- 
fuits of the hoiindj there appears foinething like 
choice; but, in the labours of the bee, the whole 
has the femblance of necedity or compulfion. 
Another argument of the imperfeftion of Infefts 
may be drawn from their amazing numbers. It 
is a rule which univerfally obtains, that the nobler 
animals are flowly produced, and that Nature aits 
with a kind of dignified oeconomy; while the 
meaner births are lavifhed in profufion, and thou- 
fands are produced merely to fupply the ne'^ -Rities 
of the more favourite objefts of creation. All 
other animals are capable of fome degree of edu- 
cation : their inftin6ls may be fupprefied or altered ; 
the dog may be taught to fetch and carry ; the bird 
to whiftle a tune; and the ferpent to dance: but 
the Infe6t has only one mode of operating; no arts 
can divert it from it's infl:in6ls; and indeed it's 
whole life is too fhort for receiving any portion of 
inftruftion. 
If Infe6ls are regarded as bearing a relation to 
man, and as affifting him in the pleafures and ne- 
ceffities of life, they will, even in this refpeft, fink 
in the comparifon with the larger tribes of animals. 
It is true, that the bee, the filk-worm, the cochi- 
neal-fly, and the cantharides, are of the moft eflen- 
tial fervice; but how many others of this clafs are 
either noxious, or wholly ufelefs! Even in the 
moft cultivated countries, where injurious animals 
have been reduced b>^Je|)^ted afllduity, the Infeil 
tribes ftill maintain tKeir ground, and are often 
unwelcome intruders on the fruits of human in- 
duftry. But, in more uncultivated regions, their 
annoyances and devaftations are unbounded. What 
a miferable life muft the Laplanders lead, as well 
as the natives of fome parts of America, where a 
candle is no fooner lighted, than the Infeft-fwarms 
inftantly exringuifh it; where the inhabitants are 
obliged to fmear their bodies and faces with tar, 
or fome flmilar compofition, to prote6t them from 
the punftures of thde minute enemies ; and where, 
though miillions are deftroyed, millions conftantly 
fucceed, and render life ftill more uncomfortable 
than the climate itfelf naturally would, with all it's 
attendant horrors ! 
INSECT, MUSK. A term ufed by fome na- 
turalifts in a vague fenfe, to exprefs the Capricorn, 
or mufk-beetle : however, there are other Infefts 
which fmell as ftrongly of that perfume; particu- 
larly a fmall kind of bee, which frequents the ra- 
nunculus and dandelion; and a hexapode worm, 
which feeds on the gallium luteum. 
INTESTINA. A genus of worms in the Lin- 
njEan fyftem ; the chara6lers of which are, that they 
are fimple, naked animals, without limbs; fome 
pierced with lateral holes, or a kind of pores ; and 
others entirely imperforated. The fubordinate ge- 
nera of this clafs of worms are the gordius, afcaris, 
lumbricus, fafciola, fipunculus, hirudo, and myx- 
ine, comprehending twenty-four different fpecies. 
JONi?L PISCIS. An appellation given by 
many naturalifts to the common fliark, the Canis 
Carcharius of Linnseus. This name feems to 
have been adopted from an opinion that this fifti 
fwallowed up the prophet Jonas; but there are 
many objeftions againft this conjefture. 
JOPPA WHELK. A name fometimes ufcd 
to exprefs a fpecies of the buccinum. 
JOSO. A fmall marine ndi of the fea-gud- 
geon or rock-fifn kind, common in the Mediter- 
ranean, and called gobius albiis by fome ichthyo- 
logifts. ' 
IPECA GUACA. A Brazilian bird of the 
duck kind. It is of a middle fize between the 
duck and the goofe; and is generally kept tame, 
as well for the fake of it's eggs as it's flefti. 
IPECATI APOA. A Brazilian fpecies of 
duck, to which the Portuguefe have given the 
name of Pata. It is nearly of the fize of the goofe, 
but cxa6lly refembles the duck in fliape and figure. 
IPECU. A Brazilian bird of the woodpecker 
kind, called by Ray Picus varius Brazilienfis. It 
is about the fize of the common pigeon : the beak 
is ftraight, very fliarp, and hard; with which it 
pierces trees, in the fame manner as the congene- 
rous European birds. 
IPERAQUIBA. An appellation given by 
fomie aut!iors to the remora or fuck'ng-fifh. 
ISABELLA. A name given by the French 
conchyologifts to the beautiful pale brown voluta, 
fo much efteemed by fome colleftors of fliells. 
ISARUS. A term uied by the ancients to ex- 
prefs the chamois-goat. 
ISATIS. An animal of the fox kind, called 
by fome authors the ardic fox. It's hair, which 
is fofter than that of the common fox, is fome- 
times white, and at others brown, and even blue; 
but is much longer in winter than in fummer, 
which indeed is ufual with animals peculiar to 
cold climates. 
The Ifatis is very common in all the hyper- 
borean countries bordering on the Icy Sea, and is 
feldom feen but in the coldeft climates. It is prin- 
cipally found in the mountains and naked regions 
of Norway, Siberia, and Lapland. In the fhape 
of it's body, and the length of it's tail, it refembles 
the fox; but, in the figure of it's head, and the po- 
fition of it's eyes, it is more like the dog. Not 
being able to burrow on account of the froft, it 
lives in the clifts of rocks j and two or three pair 
generally inhabit the fame hole. It barks like 
the dog; and generally goes with young nine 
weeks. 
Thefe animals, which pofTefs all the cunning of 
the common fox, prey on young geefe, ducks, and 
water-fowl, before they are fledged. In Green- 
land, they are compelled by necefTity to feed on 
berries, fl:ie]l-fifh, or any fubftances which the fea 
cafts up ; while their principal food, in the north 
of Afia and in Lapland, is the leming, or Lapland 
marmot. The fur of the Ifatis is of no value, un- 
lefs the creature is killed in the winter feafbn. 
ISINGLASS FISH. A fpecies of the accl- 
penfer or fhirgeon, diftinguiflied from the others 
by being deftitutc of t!ie tubercles which appear 
on the body of the common fturgeon. 
Thefe fifh, Vs'hich are caught in great quantities 
in the Danube from October till January, feldom 
weigh lefs than fifty pounds each, and fometimes 
upwards of four hundred. Their flefli is Ibfr, glu- 
tinous, and flabby; but it is fometimes faked, and 
is then reckoned tolerable food. However, they 
are principally caught for the fake of that valua- 
ble commodity called Ifinglafs, which they fur- 
nifh in fuch abundance, and which is made in the 
following manner. The fkin, the entrails, the fins, 
and the tail of the fifli, are cut into fmall pieces j 
and, after macerating for fome time in a fufhcient 
quantity of warm water, are boiled over a flow fire 
till they are diflfblved and reduced to a jelly: this 
jelly is fpread on inftruments made for the pur- 
pofe; fo that, in drying, it afllimes the form of 
parchment; and, when perfedly dry, is rolled up. 
in that fliape in which we meet with it in the 
ftiops, 
5 I ITAIARA. 
