INSECTS. 
The excellent Stillingfleet says, “ We are too apt to 
treat the Almighty worse than a rational man would 
treat a good mechanic ; whose works he would 
either thoroughly examine, or be ashamed to find 
any fault with them.” This observation is but too 
true ; and we are confident that many are deterred 
from contemplating the minuter parts of the crea- 
tion, from the fear of being ridiculed as hunters of 
butterflies, or collectors of cockles : but let it be 
remembered, that those who direct their wit against 
the naturalist, are far more to be pitied than he, 
who has a rational and innocent amusement to fly 
to, that will at once arrest his attention and improve 
his mind. He may be assured, that the variety, 
the dispositions, and the wonderful formation, of 
the little creatures we are about to describe, will 
afford him sufficient matter of astonishment ; and, 
at the same time, compel him to allow, that what 
the Deity in his infinite wisdom hath thought fit to 
create, it can never degrade us to examine. 
