UATURAL HISTORY. 
?1S 
ent. The hinder legs are very long, the 
next Ihorter ; and the foremoft pair ot thighs 
are terminated with fpines. The reft have 
membranous lobes, which ferve as wings 
to them in their flight. Ihe infeft might, 
therefore, be juftly called the Mercury of 
this part of the creation. 1 he top of the 
head is membranous, flraped like an owl, 
and divided at its extremity. This animal is 
one of the innumerable inftances which na- 
ture affords, to indicate the infinite wif- 
dom of the Creator. Whenever any part 
of his workmanffiip is found to deviate from 
the general fyftem, it is ftill formed to 
anfwer the defign of Us exiftence. 1 his in- 
feft, having fuch long legs, could never 
have fuftained itfelf in the air, had not pro- 
vidence beftowed on it a fpecies of wings, to 
balance its weight. Thcfe are the 
with which nature teems ; and which would 
make the atheift tremble, had he but fenfe 
to contemplate the admirable defign, fyftem, 
and application, with which they are c ra- 
latterized, as 
parti of one llupendous whole ; 
Whole body Nature is, and God the ion. 
This genus is generally of a very beauti- 
ful green ; but the colour foon lades, and 
Ijecomes that of dead leaves; wiict 
caufed the inhabitants of China, w rere tney 
are found, to call them by the name ol walk- 
ing leaves. 
