ANALYSIS OF SUBJECTS. 365 
And how in each stage of growth the next is prefigured, . ... ... .. 113 
However numerous or great the changes, the individuality is preserved, ... ... ... 114 
A future life is provided for, as in the case of the human embryo. .115 
CHAPTER VII.-THE PHCENIX. 
Out of gloom and obscurity emerges light, ... . ... ... . ... 119 
The metamorphosis takes place, but the insect is not at a loss, ... ... 120 
Nature furnishes each species with all its needs for the new life, ... .121 
Its vital intensity is revealed by the brightness of its colouring, ,. ... 122 
Insects of gay attire are found in every region, ... ... ... ... ... .123 
Even among the snows of the Alpine peaks, ... ... ... ... .,. ..124 
BOOK THE SECOND.—MISSION AND ARTS OF THE INSECT. 
CHAPTER I.—SWAMMERDAM. 
The secret of the Insect World first discovered by Swammerdam .129 
A comparison instituted between him and Galileo, .130 
His early years, his favourite occupations, and his collections of insects, . 131, 132 
To assist him in his investigations he invented the microscope, ... .133 
His patient labours rewarded by great discoveries, ... ... . ... ... 134 
Yet in his own country he was not honoured ; it was in France that his work met with 
due appreciation, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 135 
Ardent devotion to science brings on premature decay, ... ... . ... .. 136 
Dark clouds overcast his later years, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 137 
He died at the age of three and forty, ... ... ... ... ... • ... ... ... 138 
His work is carried on by Leuwenhoek and Malpighi, ... ... ... ... .. ... 139 
CHAPTER II.-THE MICROSCOPE : HAS THE INSECT A PHYSIOGNOMY l 
In the infinitely little lurks a great attraction for man, ... ... ... ... ... ... 143 
Hence its study should be systematically undertaken, ... ... . ... 144 
Michelet applies himself to his microscope, . ... . ... 145 
And examines the structure of an insect’s wing,. .. ... 146 
Next, he studies the organization of the ant, ... ... . ... ... 147 
He describes what he saw, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .148 
A complex apparatus, both for action and defence, . ... . ... 150 
What it is which separates us from the insect, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 151 
CHAPTER III.—THE INSECT AS THE AGENT OF NATURE IN THE 
ACCELERATION OF DEATH AND LIFE. 
The language of the insect in its immense energy, ... ... ... ... ... ... 155 
A glance is directed at the order of Nature, ... ... . ... .156 
And it is shown that all forms of life must be kept within certain limits, ..156 
Hence, one race preys upon another, and all Nature is a scene of incessant combat, ... 157 
In this work of destruction, and purification, the Bird and the Insect play an important 
part, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 158 
The Coleoptera bring their surprising energies to the task, ... ... ... .159 
The insect-tribes are therefore great sanitary agents, ... ... ... ... ... ... 160 
The great Guiana ants afford an illustration, . ... .161 
And the beneficent labours of the spider have secured the respect of the Siberians, ... 162 
CHAPTER IV.-THE INSECT AS MAN’S AUXILIARY. 
The want of insect-labour induced the potato disease, . . ... ... 165 
Such is the dictum of an author, who thinks that the multiplication of small birds has 
been destructive to insect-life ; but no such multiplication of birds has taken place, 
nor any such destruction of insects, ... . . ... 165,166 
The Bird and the Insect are the joint purifiers of creation, ... . . ... 167 
Some species of insects should'be carefully preserved, . ... ... 167 
A sketch is given of their multifarious labours, ... ... . 168 
Of the services rendered by the scavenger-insects, .169 
