Me Hes ft OR YM of ANS £ CT Ss. 
fo far, that, by following nature, we are able 
to produce the Chryfalis from the Caterpillar 
ftate. Nay, it is in our power to keep back 
this tranfmutation, or to retard the fame to any 
degree we think proper, though it happens fo 
{wiftly and fuddenly, and therefore, undoubted 
credit ought to be given to the feveral matters 
we publifh here concerning this change. Hence 
it is, that we can now exhibit to public view 
many Chryfallides, reduced to almoft one half; 
this, among feveral other myfteries. of nature, 
we have fhewn before his ferene highnefs Cof- 
mus the third, grand duke of Tufcany, when 
he, by a fpecial mark of diftinction, was gra- 
cioufly pleafed to vifit us, and to approve of 
our experiments. 
But to have done with the errors of Goe- 
daert, which we have hitherto been fetting 
right, we {hall lay down the following as un- 
doubted truths. Firft, that the legs of the 
Caterpillar, or Worm, are never tranfpofed to 
the back. Secondly, that the Caterpillar is not 
changed into another animal, though, in procefs 
of time, the legs themfelves grow in the fame 
ay, 
manner, asthe wings of ayoung bird, or feet of a 
Tadpole. Thirdly, that no natural transformation 
“happens in thefe infects; but that this whole 
change, (in finding out the nature whereof, 
authors have committed fo many errors, and 
proceeded, as it were, blind-fold, like the com- 
batants of old) confifts only in this, that the 
limbs of the Caterpillar, or Worm, by an ac- 
cretion of the parts, grow infenfibly under its 
skin; and when the latter is fhed, the former 
appear plainly and diftinly to the fight, but 
they cannot be moved at firft by the little ani- 
mal; the reafon of which is, becaufe they are 
fluid like water, and cannot acquire fufficient 
ftrength, unlefs they evaporate it for fome days 
before. 
But this does not hold in all Worms, fince 
there are many which lofe no part of their 
motion. ‘To render this matter the more clear, 
we fhall now proceed to the third propofition, 
defiring the reader to confider it attentively, as 
it isa matter of the greateft importance, and of 
very great extent. 
diel BA subs ay Vs 
Of the four orders of natural changes, to which we refer nearly all the fpecies 
of infects, as having the Jame fole principle of change. 
AVING hitherto, from the nature of 
things, examined and drawn, as it were, 
a juft and elegant picture of the true origin 
of thefe appearances, or, as they may be called, 
fudden buddings and fhootings into limbs in 
infects, and by that means, fhewn how this 
fabje&t hath been difgraced and obfcured by 
chimerical notions, and the idle traditions con- 
cerning thefe changes; having likewife cleared 
the fubject from the impurities wherein it was 
involved, by eftablifhing it on a ftrong and 
firm foundation, which cannot be fhaken by 
any force; and in our opinion, can no more be 
fet afide in favour of fortuitous chance, than a 
Lamb can be generated by a Wolf, or an Eagle 
by a Dove, we {hall now proceed to the po- 
fitions themfelves, or to the feveral orders of 
thefe changes ; whereby, as with the genuine 
tinct of nature, we fhall endeavour to illuftrate 
the picture before us, and reftore the amazing 
and wonderful appearances of infeéts to their 
true {plendor and native beauty. Thus hall 
we more clearly be fenfible of, and, with greater 
devotion and more humble reverence, meditate 
on the omnipotent wifdom and fuperlative 
goodnefs of God in the accretion, fuftenance, 
and change of the minuteft animalcules, which 
form a celeftial hoft as the angels. 
If we diligently attend to this true bafis of 
all the changes of infects, that is the Nymph, 
it will be eafy to comprehend the reafon why 
all the fpecies, tho’ fo many in number, toge- 
ther with their changes, agree and terminate in 
this one particular; wherefore it feems fuper- 
fluous to dwell longer on the explanation of 
them. If again we more ferioufly confider 
after what various ways this Nymph hides 
itfelf under the manifold forms of thofe in- 
fects, fo as to elude the fharpeft eye; it will 
become neceflary to view this Nymph in every 
light, under all its accidental appearances. And 
herein we fhall not follow asa guide the de- 
lufive traces of our own ingenuity, or admit 
the inventions of fancy, but purfue only the 
various and natural phenomena of the Nymph. 
There are four orders which comprehend the 
whole clafs of infects, fo that we cannot fee 
one, which may not be referred to one or other 
of them, efpecially if we can fee its change. 
The firft order will comprehend thofe in- 
fects, which, with all their limbs and parts, 
proceed inftantly out of the egg, and grow in- 
fenfibly, until they attain a proper fize; after 
which they are changed into the Nymph, 
which undergoes no other change but that of 
its skin. 
Of the fecond order are thofe hatched with 
fix legs, and which, when the wings are gra~ 
dually perfected, are alfo changed into Nymphs, 
The third order is, when the Worm or Ca- 
terpillar comes forth from the egg either with- 
out any legs, or with fix or more, and its limbs 
afterwards grow under the skin, in a manner 
imperceptible to our fight, until at length it cafts 
ae skin and refembles the Nymph, or Chry- 
alis. 
The fourth order is, when the Worm like- 
wife proceed from the egg, either without 
FE any, 
