3J2 OF INSECTS IN GENERAL, 
has ever yet been adduced, to eftablilh it. The frhalleft 
and moft delicate infeds, for ought our fenfes can difco- 
ver, may find various particles of matter floating in the 
air that may ferve for their l'upport ; the effluvia conti- 
nually emitted by animal and vegetable fubftances in a 
ftatc of putrefaction, probably fupport many of this clafsi 
We know at leaft, that feveral fifhes are capable of li- 
ving upon the earthy particles that are found floating in 
the pureft water ; and if animals of that fuperior fize are 
thus fupported, there can hardly be any room to doubt 
that infeds, many of whom are fcarcely perceptible, may 
find abundant fubfiftence in the air, impregnated as it is 
with various effluvia. 
The economical ufes of infeds, and their noxious ef- 
feds upon the various objeds of human induftry, have 
already been confidered * ; it now remains, that we’ point 
out the purpofes which they ferve in the general fyftem 
of nature. A clafs of beings by far the moft numerous 
upon the face of the globe, and however fmall taken in- 
dividually, yet forming colledively a rnafs of organifed 
matter, fuperior in bulk to any other department of the 
animal kingdom, every perfon will admit, could not be 
originally formed for no purpofe, nor continue to be pro- 
pagated without anfwering fome important ufes in the 
economy of nature. 
The firft and moft obvious ufe of this part of the ani- 
mal kingdom, feems to confift in that large fupply of 
provifion which it affords the fuperior ranks of animated 
beings. It is for this important purpofe that the whole 
lurface of the earth is annually covered with plants and 
herbage; and many, perhaps the greater piart of the 
larger animals are fupported by the immediate pro- 
duce 
» Se<ft, I. 
