INTRODUCTION. 3 
parts made with ftrength and fharpnefs, as in the wild bee, and the 
beetle. There are even fome animals that convey themfelves by me- 
ods to us unknown. Infects, which are generated in Ragnant waters, 
are often found in new pits and ponds, and fometimes on the tops of 
Aoufes and fleeples. Spiders with their webs have been known to foar to 
aconfiderable height, having been feen above the highelt fteeple of York 
Minfler. How thefe animals have been thus capable of conveying them- 
felves from place to place is a phenomenon for which we are unable to 
account; fome years ago, it was the method to give realons for every 
appearance in nature, but as philofophy grows more mature it becomes 
more cautious and diffident, nor blufhes in many inftances to avow its 
ignorance. sora 
_ Thofe infe&s which are provided with wings have tendons, which 
diftend and ftrengthen them; thofe which are provided with four, ufe 
the outermoft rather as cafes to defend the internal wings than ‘as Ine 
firuments in flying. When the infec is at reft, the inner wings are 
generally gathered up in the manner we clofe a fan, nor is it without 
fome efforts that the little animal can unfold it. Thofe, however, 
w. ofe wings are not cafed in this manner, fuch as moths and butter- 
flies, have them defended with feathers; for that beautiful variety of 
colours which we fo much admire, appears, through a microfcope, to 
be nothing more than different coloured plumage, as artfully placed as 
in the wings of birds, but too minute to be difcerned by the naked eye. 
Such infeéts as have but two wings have two little balls, or poifers, 
joined to the body under the hinder part of each wing, that ferve to 
keep them fteady, and in fome meafure counteradts the changes of the 
air, which might at every variation carry them in its current: If one 
of thefe poifers be cut off the infest will oon fall to the ground, but if 
they are both cut, it will fill fly, but yet in the direction of every ; 
breeze. . : 
They are thus formed for motion, rather to provide fuftenance than 
to avoid danger. As from their natural weaknefs they are the prey of 
€very fuperior order of animals, they feem to find fafety only in their 
muntteneis of retirement; but even with every precaution they furnith 
outa repaft to fwallows and other birds, who, while to us they feem 
{porting in the air, are then employed in procuring their neceflary fub- 
fiftance. The infea itfelf, however, is at ihe fame time in purluit of 
fome inferior order of infeéts, for there are the fame holtilities among 
the fmalleft that there are amongft the largeft animals. 
Summer is the feafon of their pleafures; many of them never live 
above a fingle feafon, while others are found to continue but one day. 
Such however as are more long lived, take the proper precautions to 
Provide for their fafety in winter, and fix upon the moft convenient 
fituations for fpending that interval, and fuch as want food lay in 
the proper flores for fub{itance. But the greateft number want no 
fuch neceffary ftock, for they fleep during the continuance of the 
winter, Some caterpillars, for inftance, having fed during the fum- 
Mer retire, at the approach of cold, to a place of fafety, and there, 
by {pinning a thread like a cobweb, hang themfelves in fome commodi- 
ous place, covered with a fa&itious coat, which at once ferves to keep 
them warm, and guard them from external injuries. Here they con- 
tinue in this torpid fate till the returning fun calls them to new life; 
A 2 
they 
