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ber is not finall. However, that my readers may be made more fully acquainted with this part of the fubject I fall 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 form an 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,

18

105

37

2

eight feet,

ten feet,

twelve feet,

fourteen feet,

fixteen feet,

above fixteen feet,

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

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

Those with wings only half covered,
entirely covered,

The fum total of thefe numbers is,

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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

an exaggerated fuppofition, firce great numbers of thofe animals lay eggs by hundreds; the 765 fema'es would produce the first year 7,650, the second 70, 500, the third 765,000, and fo progreffively.

Obferve,that among the infects without wings which I have just enumerated, I have made no mention of maggots, caterpillars, aphides &c. which transform themfelves into winged infects. How many other forts of infects might not be found in different au thors unknown to me, or whom I have not an oppor tunity of confulting! might not my calculation be infinitely encreafed by thofe that live in uninhabited countries, at the bottom of rivers, lakes and feas? If all these were known, furcly we would find their numbers almost infinite.

But if all these infects multiplied every year according to the proportion ítated above, and that this took place, without interruption, for five or fix years, what a prodigious number would not there then be in the world! What frightful devaftations would they not occafion! The ravages which a fingle army of locuits commits, aftonishes and alarms us; but with what aftonishment and alarm would we not be affected, were we to behold the mifchiefs which many hundred armies of infects, of different fpecies, would occafion, as numerous, and as dreadful as locufts!

The number of animals which this terraqueous globe of ours is capable of fuftaining, is determined by the extent of its furface. If in one year they were to multiply to twice or three times their ufual number, the productions of the earth, proportioned to its furface, not being fufficient to maintain them, they would either die of hunger, or prey upon one another. In order to prevent fuch an inconvenience, God hath wifely fet bounds to the life and multiplication of aniG 2

mals.

mals, Thofe which live long are not prolific, fo that the earth is not incommoded with their fpecies. But it is otherwife with thofe whofe lives are fhort. Accordingly infects which live but for a fhort time, produce multitudes of young. This numerous multiplication is likewife neceffary for them, as many of their eggs perifh by the injuries of the weather, and many ferve for food to other animals. So wife an ordination prevents the earth from being defolated by a greater number of animals than it can maintain, and preferves a juft proportion amongst its various inhabitants.

It is not without juftice, that the Scriptures give to God the title of Lord of Hofts. He is the Sovereign of legions of angels, of the armies of Heaven; of that multitude of birds which it has been fuppofed exceed five hundred fpecies; of the fifhes of the fea, and of the waters, of which one thoufand different fpecies are known, and of thofe tribes of animals and ferpents, the fpecies of which amount to one hundred and fifty. However numerous thefe armies may be, those of the different fpecies of infects do not yield to them in that refpect. "Lift up your eyes on high, "and behold who hath created these things, that "bringeth out their hoft by number: he cal"leth them all by names, by the greatnefs of his "might, for that he is ftrong in power, not one "faileth." ISA. XL. 26.

God has not manifefted his power only in the creation of this almoft infinite multitude of infects and other animals, but his wifdom is alfo confpicuous. We have obferved that a too great multiplication would defolate the earth, which would not then be able to maintain them; but he has ordered it fo that. there is always a juít proportion, never too many nor too few. Without this wife provision we might from time to time lofe certain ipecies of animals while

others

others might multiply to fuch a degree as to become really hurtful. Can a balance fo equal, and in which we difcover fo much wifdom be the work of blind chance? Surely not: what is left to chance is never fixed, never regular. But here we behold a conftant and invariable proportion which can be nothing but the effect of a defign premeditated, and of a plan executed by an all wife and an almighty pow.

er.

How many means has not the God of armies in ftore for chastifing the human race! All his legions are ready to fly at his command to execute his orders. To mention only the army of infects, how ma ny means can he not employ to humble the pride of weak mortals! Thefe noxious creatures fometimes attack the greateft monarchs on their thrones, they defolate our fields, infeft our houfes, and lead famine and death in their train. Though neceffary to a certain degree, their excefs is always pernicious. We fhould be in perpetual fear, did not we know that the Being who regulates their fecundity, loves us, and will not permit them to multiply beyond their proper bounds. We muft not however flatter ourselves too much. "All things work together "for good to the godly; but to finners they are turn"ed into evil. Fire, and hail, and famine and death, "all these were created for vengeance; the teeth of "wild beafts and fcorpions, ferpents and the fword, "punishing the wicked to deftruction. They rejoice

in his commandment, and are ready upon earth, when need is, and when his time is come, to obey his word." ECCLESIASTICUS XXXIX. 27. &c.

CHAP. V.

CHA P. V.

OF THE RESPIRATION OF INSECTS.

RESPIRATION is that action of the lungs by which the air enters the bodies of animals and is expelled again without intermiffion. It is one of the most important functions of animal life, and without which no creature could fubfift; accordingly we find that every thing which lives refpires, or performs fome function nearly approaching to refpiration. It was the neceffity of this continual motion which determined the Creator to form in living creatures, thofe admirable organs which perform it. It is the fame neceffity too which makes us generally confound refpiration with life, and confider thefe things as fo ftrictly combined that they can never exift apart. It is not merely in common language, that these two terms are confidered as fynonimous ; the Scripture itself often ufes them indifferently. Mofes, meaning to indicate the deftruction of all animals by the waters of the deluge, fays that "all "flefh died that moved upon the earth, both of "fowl and of cattle, and of beaft, and of every "thing that creepeth upon the earth, and of every man; all in whofe noftrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land died." GEN, vii. 21,22. David alfo expreffes himself in the fame manner, fpeaking of the death of animals ; "if thou takest away their breath, they die and re"turn to their duft." PSAL. civ. 29. St Paul,

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