COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 
73 
cheae, equally ramified and divided, to convey air 
and life into this inextricable tissue. This is a 
spectacle, says Cuvier, altogether transporting by its 
delicacy and regularity. Even to the fine assortment 
of its colours, every thing seems as if made on pur- 
pose to please the eye of man, which now perhaps 
looked upon it for the first time since the creation.* 
-—Each tribe of this extensive class of animals pos- 
sesses peculiar attributes deserving of our regard. 
The extreme beauty of the Lepidoptera or butter- 
flies, — die striking contrast they present in the dif- 
ferent stages of their existence, so remarkable as to 
have caused them to be regarded by a mystical phi- 
losophy as the types of the human soul released from 
its material encumbrance, — their habits and times 
of appearance, die one suggesting the purity of an 
ethereal nature, the other associating them in -the 
mind of the observer with the beauty of external 
nature, and the genial influences of the seasons, — 
have alike contributed to render them objects of 
general favour. The absence of imposing forms 
and splendour of ornament among the Hymmoptera , 
is amply compensated by their interesting habits, 
and beautiful adaptation of structure to the perfect 
fulfilment of those wonderful instincts which in 
every age have excif ed the admiration of mankind. 
Without possessing in equal perfection the beauty 
of the Lepidoptera, or the exquisite economy of the 
Rapport sur l'Histoire Naturelle. 
