one hundred and eight feet, and the other no lefs than one hundred and eighty four.

I obferved above, that among winged infects, fome had naked wings, and others had their wings covered with a cafe. The wings of the former, are either quite fmooth and tranfparent, or covered with a fort of meal.

Among thofe with fmooth wings, fome have two wings, and fome four; to the former of these belong the gnats, whether of Europe or America; the moft remarkable of which are, the Maringóin, the Mofquito, the Yetis, and winged ant. To these must be added, many fpecies of flies, fuch as the Afilus aquaticus, the flies that are found on dung, in the earth, on leaves, and not only thofe that fuck the juice of flowers, but of fruits; thofe that are voracious, and eat other infects, and the flesh of ferpents, and other animals. We refer likewise to the fame clafs, the flies which attack dogs, and horses, the gad-flies, the Ricinus volans; thofe that are found on the leaves of the hazel tree, the Ichneumons, which have certain hairs iffuing from the poftorior part of the abdomen like a tail, fome having one, two, or three of thefe, and others four; to these we add the Taons and Tipulæ

The number of infects which have four uncovered wings, fmooth and membranous, is not lefs great than thofe which have only two. In this clafs are

the aquatic flies with a downy abdomen, wafps, bees, drones, and different fpecies found in the Brazils, grafshoppers, the fhining flies, the Ephemeræ, the criket, and the (Gryllotalpa) mole cricket. To these may be added dragon flies, large and fmall, a fpecies of gnat called by the Germans, Kerder-mucke, the fly with the fcorpion's tail, and others of the fame

kind; fome winged aphides, the winged fcorpion; fome aquatic gnats, the ichneumon, and various other forts of flies.

The infects with mealy wings, as if very fine powder had been strewed over them, have four wings. I include in this clafs, the day butterflies of every fpecies and colour; the Phalenæ or moths, which during the day lurk in obfcurity; the Tineæ, whofe wings are as long, though not fo broad, as those of moths, and whose body is often not larger than that of a fly.

Speaking of infects whofe wings are covered with a cafe, we diftinguished them into two kinds. The cafes of the one leave a part of the abdomen bare, and those of the others cover it entirely. Among the first, are various forts of bugs; the aquatic, fome of which fwim on their back, those that are found in dung, and those that live on trees. To these we may add, the earwig, the May beetle, the Staphyli nus, the Silpha Vefpillo, and others of the fame kind. Those whofe wings and abdomen are entirely covered, have not all cafes of the fame degree of hardness. In fome it is very tender and delicate as in grafshoppers, both foreign and indigenous, in the Mantis of Italy, the Arbe, the Selaam, the Hargol, the Hagab of Paleftine, the hooded locuft of America, the walking leaf of the Eaft Indies, &c. In others, the covering is much harder, and this clafs is very numerous. the first place we enumerate the Buprestis, and different forts of cantharides, the Dytifci, the Cerambyces, the fmall hemifpherical Lady flies of which the red are the most common, the Curculios, and many others, to which we may join the different species of Scarabaei with horns, both straight and crooked; the flying stag &c.

In

n If we contemplate for a moment that prodigious umber of different fpecies of infects, fome of which we have mentioned; if we attend to the diversity which reigns among them, with refpect to the figure and fitnefs of their limbs; if we confider that each fpecies is furnished with every thing neceffary for its existence, but with nothing more; how muft we be ftruck with admiration, and what ideas will we not entertain of the infinite wifdom of the Creator! Should an artift ingenious enough to imitate exactly the figures of thefe different animals, exhibit them to the view of spectators, how would he find his fkill celebrated! The delicacy of the work would be admired, and the author extolled but what dif proportion would there not be between the labour of fuch an artist, and the productions of the divine workman! Allowing that the former fhould perfectly fucceed in imitating the external appearance of the animal, could we thence conclude that the artist had equalled the skill and wisdom of the Crea tor? No, there could be no comparifon. The mafter-piece of fuch an artist would be altogether deftitute of that which forms the chief beauty in the works of God, as the flighest examination would convince us. Where would we fee that internal structure which the moft inconfiderate are aftonished at? Where could we find thofe wife and fubtile fprings which move of themfelves? What artift could imitate those organs which are fo minute as to elude our fenfes? Let us then be confiftent; if we admire the addrefs of a workman even when we confefs it infinitely below that of the divine being, let us not refufe to the Creator the glory that is due to him. As much as his wifdom, apparent in the ftructure, of an Infect, tranfcends that of the moft ingenious ar tift, fo far ought our praises of the creator to exceed those we bestow on his humble imitator. On the fight of any infect let us accuftom ourselves to magnify

the

the depth of the wifdom and knowledge of that God who hath created them; let us never contemplate. them without celebrating him, who hath given them life and breath and being. These are the natural fentiments which ought to arife in the hearts of every. rational being; and they incited David to cry out, let every creature praife the name of the Lord. As thefe are not all capable of thofe fentiments, they cannot praife their Creator but by exciting his intelligent creatures to acquit themfelves of that important duty. Let them praife the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. He hath alfo eftablifhed them for ever and ever: he hath made

a decree which fhall not pais away. Praise the Lord from the earth, beafts, and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl: kings of the earth, and all people, princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men, and maidens, old men and children; let them praife the name of the Lord for his name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth and heaven.' PSALM, CXLVIII, 5,6,7,10-13.

CHAP. IV.

OF THE NUMBERS OF INSECTS, AND OF THE

PROPORTION IN WHICH THEY MULTIPLY.

TE HE enumeration I made in the last chapter of some of the most common infects, fhews that their num

ber is not fmall. However, that my readers may be made more fully acquainted with this part of the fubject 1 fhall detail in this chapter, what my own obfervation, as well as the writings of various authors of reputation have taught me with regard to the number of fpecies included in each of the claffes under which they I have arranged infects.

By this means, it will be eafy to formi án eftimate by calculation of the prodigious numbers which must be generated annually.

The fpecies of aquatic vermes without feet, which are known to me amount to

Sea ftars,

Vermes, not aquatic,

Infects with two feet,

fix feet,

eight feet,

ten feet,

18

105 37:

2

69

99

twelve feet,

fourteen feet,

fixteen feet,

→ above fixteen feet,

According to the divifion I have made of winged infects, I find the fpecies of those with two fmooth wings, like transparent vellum are,

Those of infects with four fuch wings,
Those with four mealy wings,

Those with wings only half covered,
entirely covered,

The fum total of thefe numbers is,

6

26

83

69

135

13

97

765

Now let us take a fingle female of each of thefe 765 fpecies, and let us fuppofe that the anually gives birth to ten infects of her kind, which cannot furely be

an