g NATURAL HISTORY. : 
They are almoft all very quick in their fight, and getting out of thé 
way of danger; fome by the help of their wings, and otliers by the af 
fiftance of threads, which they can throw ont, and hang by them undef 
the leaves of trees, on which they live. Others again can leap to a 
reat diftance, and fo get out of harm’s way. 
~ It is alfo wonderful to confider the various organs by which they are 
aflited to live, and the inftruments they make ufe of each according 
‘to their profeffion. Some are fkilful in fpinning, having two diflaffs. 
and fingers to draw out the thread; others can make nets and webs, 
and are provided with thread and thuttles. Some again build them- 
felves honfes with wood, and have the fickles to cut it; others are fkil- 
ful in making way, and have ferapers, fpoons, and trowels. They 
have generally a trunk, whofe ufes are more wonderful than that of 
the elephant; for with it they can extra& liquor with more fkill than 
any man. Some have tongues, which ferve them for tafting, and others 
have a fort of gimblet to bore holes with. Others have. piercers fixed 
to their tails, by means of which, they make lodgings for themfelves 
and families, in the heart of fruits, under the bark of trees, and even 
in the hardef{ wood. Moft of them have excellent eyes; befides 
which, they have horns or feelers, to prevent their meeting with any 
_ thing that may do them harm, efpecially in the dark. Some of thefe 
horns are full of knots, or joints, like thofe on the heads of Cray-filh 
and feveral are terminated like a comb. Others again have four large 
wings, equal to the length of their bodies, and fome have them fo fine, 
that the leaft obftacle will tear them in pieces; but thefe are, generally 
hid under two ftrong fhells, which may be raifed up, or {hut clofe downy 
which they always are, when they are at reft or creep. Befides thefey 
there are other great varieties, which will be taken notice of in their 
roper places. 
All forts of infe&ts are generated like larger animals, from eggs } 
and thefe at firft are enclofed in a fingle or double covering, . which 
opens when the animal is old enough to pierce through. When the 
brood break the covering, at their coming into the world, thefe crea- 
tures are faid to be viviparous ; as for inftance, Millipedes, or Hog-lices 
When the old ones bring forth the young in a covering, where they 
are to remain fome time, they are faid to be Oviparous. Ail thefe in- 
fects, and indeed, all forts of animals are brought into the world one 
of thefe ways; and thofe of the oviparous kind, always lay their eggs 
in a proper place, where they are hatched by a certain degree of heats 
Tt was formerly the common opinion, that all forts of infeéts pro- 
ceeded from corruption; but this has been exploded long ago, efpeci- 
ally fince the invention of Microfcopes. And indeed, it would be ab 
furd to fuppofe, that thefe animals which are perfect in their kind, 
fhould be the effet of chance. The motions of thefe creatures, may 
feem to us without any defign; and yet, it is certain that they tend to 
a certain end, even thofe of the fmalleft, as well as the large&. No 
mfect abandons its eggs to chance; for they are never miftaken in lay- 
ing them in places, where they may receive proper nourifhment, as’ 
foon as they are hatched. In thofe countries where Silk Worms natu- 
rally live, you will always find their eggs on a mulberry-tree, and no 
where elfe, which plainly {hews they know what they are about. The’ 
Gaterpillars that feed upon cabbages, are never found upon willows, 
é 2 : ney 
