OF REMARKABLE INSECTS; SELECTED FROM NATURAL HISTORY, AND INTERSPERSED WITH POETRY, Mustrated with Cuts. BY JOSEPH TAYLOR. The little Gnat, in beauties, may compare Moses Browne. Go to the Ant, thou sluggard: consider her ways, and be wise; Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,-Provideth ber meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Proverbs, chap. vi. ver. 6, 7, 8. London: PRINTED FOR BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY, PATERNOSTER-ROW. HARY May 3,1929 LIBRARY Misses Emma & Elizabeth Harris ted by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough-court, Fleet-street, London. 33-730 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS, BY DIFFERENT AUTHORS. PERHAPS we have been accustomed to look upon Insects as so many rude scraps of Creation; but if we examine them with attention, they will appear some of the most polished pieces of divine workmanship. Many of them are decked with the richest finery. Their eyes are an assemblage of microscopes: the common Fly, for instance, who, surrounded with enemies, has neither strength to resist, nor a place of retreat to secure herself. For this reason she has need to be very vigilant, and always upon her guard. But her head is so fixed that it cannot turn to see what passes, either behind, or around her. Providence therefore has given her, not barely a retina, but more than a legion of eyes: insomuch that a single fly is supposed to be mistress of no less than B eight thousand. By the help of this truly amazing apparatus, she sees on every side, with the utmost ease and speed, though without any motion of the eye, or flexion of the neck. The dress of insects is a vesture of resplendent colours, set with an arrangement of the brightest gems. Their wings are the finest expansion imaginable, compared to which lawn is as coarse as sack-cloth. The cases which inclose their wings, glitter with the finest varnish, are scooped into ornamental flutings, are studded with radiant spots, or pinked with elegant holes. Not one but is endued with weapons to seize their prey, and dexterity to escape their foe; to dispatch the business of their station, and enjoy the pleasure of their condition. What if the Elephant is distinguished by his huge proboscis? The use of this is answered in these his meanest relations, by their curious feelers, remarkable, if not for their enormous size, yet for their ready flexion and quick sensibility. By these they explore their way in the darkest road: by these they discover and avoid whatever might |