OF 5NSECTS IN 'GENERA!.. 
3 °" 
Species of infers are not only numerous, but each has its 
own diftind hiftory, and exhibits manners, appetites, and 
modes of propagation peculiarly its own. In the larger 
ranks of exiftence, two animals that nearly refemble each 
other in form, will be found to have a fimilar hiftory ; 
but here, infeds almoft entirely alike will be found very 
diffimilar in their habits, and in the different changes 
which they undergo during their Ihort lives *. To give 
a full enumeration of all the animals contained in this 
province of nature, would prove a talk extremely aidu- 
ous ; one which no naturalift has ever pretended to ac- 
complilh. To furnilh a diftind and complete hiftory of 
each, is an undertaking for which the human powers 
feem altogether unequal; their imperfedion, at leaft, 
forbids us to hope that it will ever be effeded. 
But although a complete hiftory of the operations of 
nature in this large and populous part of her empire can- 
not be expeded ; yet, fuch a general picture may be 
ffiven, as lhall demonftrate the exiftence of that great vi- 
principle by which ftie is animated, and by which 
■She is enabled continually to pour forth into exiftence 
fuch immenfe numbers of organised beings. A hiftory 
of fuch infeds as mod frequently occur, and whofe man- 
ners are beft known, will prefent to us a pleaftng view 
of that protedion which providence affords even to the 
fmalleft of its creatures of the means it employs for 
perpetuating them , — and of that great arrangement of 
nature, by which one fetof living beings find fubfiftence, 
by devouring another, and by which life is continued 
through every part of the creation, without a paufe. 
O o a Natural 
* .Golilf truth’s Natural Hiftory, Vol, VII. p. *39- 
