ht NATURAL HISTORY. 
genera) rule, we admit there are fome few exceptions 
in caterpillars that will fubfift on any vegetable. This 
fecms to be wifely regulated, in order to prevent the 
wot. ufeful parts of vegetation being deftroyed by 
caterpillars feeding, for inftance, on apple trees only. 
. Use...-.Let no perfon confider the infect part of 
the creation,.as only worthy to be crufhed to death 
by the foot, or to be made the cruel fport of thought- 
Jefs childhood: For, in the words of the ingenious 
and immortal Shakefpear, ; 
«* The poor beetle, cruf’d beneath the foot, 
Feels a pang as great as when a monarch falls.” 
Surely their weaknefs ought to be their fureft pro- 
tection againft fuch treatment. But, when it is con- 
fidered that we derive the greate{t embellifhments, 
and medicinal aids, from their virtue, felf intereft, if 
not gratitude, fhould protect their defencelefs lives 
from being deitroyed my man. To them we are in- 
debted for our filk, honey, cochineal and feveral 
medicines that are indifpenfably neceflary to preferve 
' our lives from being the prey of maladies that might 
otherwife prove incurable. Added to this, caterpil- 
lars are indifpenfable food for birds, in their infancy, 
which have then their cries heard and relteved by 
the Creator, producing this fubfiftence, fo admirably 
adapted to their tender texture. But fometimes 1t 
mutt be allowed, that the Almighty punifhes the in- 
gratitude of man, by fending hoits of flies, locufts 
and caterpillars, in array againft him, ‘This fhould 
teach us not to defpife even a worn, which has been 
fo frequently rendered one of our moft powerful and 
dreadful enemies. Letus not think ourfelves rich, 
great, or independent, while the Almighty can pun-. 
ih our prefumption with fo inconfiderable an in- 
firument. 
Tomss.....The caterpillar, fatiated with verdure, 
retires voluntarily from life, and feeks the grave. 
Previous to their retreat, they change their fkins, 
ceafe to feed, while they build themfelves a tomb, or 
fepulchre. A few days conduét fame of them into a 

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