NATURAL HISTORY. 
177 
with hunger, unlefs they meet with a plant 
liniilar to that to which they are attached. 
To this general rule, we admit there are 
foine few exceptions in caterpillars that will 
fubfift on any vegetable. This feems to be 
wifely regulated, in order to prevent the 
moft ufeful parts of vegetation being deftroy- 
ed by caterpillars feeding, for inftancc, on 
apple-trees only. 
Ufe . — Let no i>erfon confider the infedt 
part of the creation, as only worthy to be- 
cruflied to death by the foot, or to be made 
the cruel fport of thoughtlefs childhood : 
for, in the words of the ingenious and im- 
mortal Shakefpear, “ The poor beetle, 
“ cruflied beneath the foot, feels a pang as 
“ great as when a monarch falls.” Surely 
their weaknefs ought to be their fureft pro- 
tedtion againftfuch treatment. But, when it 
is confidered that we derive the greateft eni- 
belUlhments, and medicinal aids, from their 
virtue, felf-intercft, if not gratitude, fliould 
proteft- their defcncelefs lives from being dc- 
ftroyed by man. 'Lo them we are indebted 
for our filk, honey, cochineal, and feve- 
ral medicines that are indil'penlibly necef- 
fary to prelerve our lives from being the 
prey of maladies that might otherwile prove 
incurable. Added to this caterpillars are 
indlfpenfible food lor birds, in their infancy, 
which have then their cries heard and re- 
lieved by the Creator, producing this fubfift- 
ence, fo admirably adapted to their tender 
textitre. 
