either naked, or covered with a kind of web, and are called Aurelia, Bean, Cod, Cone, or Nymph. Escaping from this second, they appear last of all in their third, or perfect state. Now it is that they are those active little creatures that we observe fluttering on every side of us, and enlivening all our summer scenes with their presence: and in this state it is that they lay their eggs.

Some writers have conjectured that the antenne or horns of insects were their organs of hearing; for it is evident from various experiments, that insects are possessed of this sense in a degree as exquisite as most other animals, although from their minuteness we may never discover by what means. The antennæ, however, seem little likely to answer the purpose of ears. These instruments of apparently exquisite sensibility seem adapted to very different purposes, but to purposes with which we may remain long unacquainted.

The eyes are formed of a transparent crustaceous set of lenses, so sufficiently hard as to require no coverings to protect them. These, like multiplying glasses, have innumerable surfaces, on every one of which the objects are distinctly formed; so that, if a candle is held opposite to them, it appears multiplied almost to infinity on their surfaces. Other creatures are obliged to turn their eyes; but insects have always some or other of these lenses directed towards objects, from what quarter soever they present themselves. All these minute hemispheres are real eyes, through which every thing appears topsyturvy.

Mr. Leeuwenhoek looked through the eye of an

insect (with the help of a microscope) as a telescope; and viewed the steeple of a church, which was 299 feet high, and 750 from the place; he could plainly see the steeple, though not apparently larger than the point of a fine needle. He also viewed a house; and could discern the front, distinguish the doors and windows, and perceive whether the windows were open or shut. Mr. Hook computed 14,000 hemispheres in the two eyes of a drone. Mr. Leeuwenhoek reckons in each eye of the dragon fly 12,544 lenses: the pictures of objects therefore that are delineated on these must be millions of times less than those formed on the human eye. Many insects still smaller have eyes, no doubt, contrived so as to discern objects some thousands of times less than themselves, for such the minute particles on which they feed must certainly be. How astonishing, therefore, must be the magnifying power of such eyes! And what extraordinary discoveries might be made, were it possible to obtain glasses through which we could see as they do!

With respect to the wings of insects, the two first orders of Linnæus have theirs defended by a pair of crustaceous cases called elytra. The three subsequent orders have four membranaceous wings, without elytra. All the insects of the sixth order have but two wings, and under each of these, at its base, is a poise or balance like a little knob. These poises are commonly little balls, placed on the top of a slender stalk, and moveable every way at pleaIn some they stand alone, but in others, as

sure.

in the whole Flesh-fly tribe, they have little covers or shields under which they lie and move. The use of these to the insect seems very clearly to be the same as a long pole, loaded at each end with lead, is to a rope-dancer: they render the body steady, and obviate all its vacillations in flight. If one of them be cut off, the insect will immediately fly ill, one side evidently overbalancing the other, till it falls to the ground: if both be cut off, it will fly very awkwardly and unsteadily, manifesting a defect of some necessary part.

The structure of the legs and feet of these little creatures is truly admirable. Some are furnished with sharp hooked claws, and skinny palms, as some flies, by which, from the pressure of the atmosphere, they are enabled to walk on glass and other smooth surfaces even with their backs downwards. Others have somewhat like spunges that answer the same purposes. The Spider has each foot armed with a comb; probably to secure the six threads that issue from so many orifices from tangling.

The tongue in the Butterfly-tribe is spiral and curved like the spring of a watch: that of the Gnat and some of the flies is short, pointed, and hollow, and through its tubular interior these insects are enabled to draw their nourishment.

The mouths of most insects are defended by bristles which tend to keep out every thing injurious.

There are seven Linnæan orders of insects; namely, Coleopterous, Hemipterous, Lepidopterous

Neuropterous, Hymenopterous, Dipterous and Apterous insects *.

1. Coleopterous insects (derived from the Greek words oλs a sheath, and pov a wing,) are such as have crustaceous elytra or shells, which shut together and form a longitudinal suture down the back. Of this order are the Beetle tribe and several others.

2. Hemipterous insects (from μious half, and πτερον a wing) have their upper wings half crustaceous, and half membranaceous, not divided by a longitudinal suture, but incumbent on or crossed over each other; as the Cock-roach, Locust, &c.

3. Lepidopterous insects (from λis a scale, anɑ TEρov a wing) are those having four wings covered with fine scales in the form of powder or meal; as in the Butterflies and Moths.

4. Neuropterous insects (from veupov a nerve, and TTEρov a wing) have four membranaceous, transparent, naked wings, in which the membranes cross each other so as to appear like net-work. The tail has no sting, but is frequently furnished with appendices like pincers, by which the males are distinguished. The common Dragon-fly is the best example that can be brought to illustrate this order.

5. Hymenopterous insects (from iμny a membrane, and πτερον a wing). The insects belonging to this order have generally four membranaceous naked wings; the neuters however in some of the genera, and in others the males or females, want wings. The

* Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera,, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and Aptera.

wings are not so much like net-work as those of the last order. The tail, except in the male, is armed with a sting. The Bee, the Wasp and the Ant are of this tribe.

6. Dipterous insects (from doos double, and TTEρov a wing) are those having only two wings, each furnished at its base with a poise or balancer. The common House-flies and the Gnat are familiar examples of this order.

7. Apterous insects (from a without, and πτερον a wing). This order contains all such insects as want wings in both sexes; as the Spider, Flea, and Louse.