which the scent issued, was the material of its food. It had never tasted milk before its birth. None of the animals which are not designed for that nourishment, ever offer to suck, or to seek out any such food. What is the conclusion, but that the sugescent parts of animals are fitted for their use, and the knowledge of that use put into them?

Nor does parental affection accompany generation by any universal law of animal organization, if such a thing were intelligible. Some animals cherish their progeny with the most ardent fondness, and the most assiduous attention; others entirely neglect them: and this distinction always meets the constitution of the young animal, with respect to its wants and capacities. In many, the parental care extends to the young animal; in others, as in all oviparous fish, it is confined to the egg, and, even as to that, to the disposal of it in its proper element. Also, as there is generation without parental affection, so is there pa-petencies, superadded to the constitution of an rental instinct, or what exactly resembles it, without generation, In the bee tribe, the grub is nurtured neither by the father nor the mother, but by the neutral bee. Probably

the case is the same with ants.

We assert, secondly, that, even as to the cases in which the hypothesis has the fairest claim to consideration, it does not at all lessen the force of the argument for intention and design. The doctrine of instincts is that of ap

animal, for the effectuating of a purpose beneficial to the species. The above-stated solution would derive these appetencies from organization; but then this organization is not less specifically, not less precisely, and, therefore, not less evidently adapted to the same ends, than the appetencies themselves would be upon the old hypothesis. In this way of considering the subject, sensation supplies the place of foresight: but this is the effect of contrivance on the part of the Creator. Let it be allowed, for example, that the hen is induced to brood upon her eggs by the enjoyment

I am not ignorant of the theory which resolves instinct into sensation; which asserts, that what appears to have a view and relation to the future, is the result only of the present disposition of the animal's body, and of pleasure or pain experienced at the time. Thus the incubation of eggs is accounted for by the pleasure which the bird is supposed to receive from the pressure of the smooth convex sur-or relief, which, in the heated state of her abface of the shells against the abdomen, or by domen, she experiences from the pressure of the relief which the mild temperature of the egg round smooth surfaces, or from the applicamay afford to the heat of the lower part of the tion of a temperate warmth. How comes this body, which is observed at this time to be in- extraordinary heat or itching, or call it what creased beyond its usual state. This present you will, which you suppose to be the cause of gratification is the only motive with the hen the bird's inclination, to be felt, just at the time for sitting upon her nest; the hatching of when the inclination itself is wanted: when it the chickens is, with respect to her, an acci- tallies so exactly with the internal constitution dental consequence. The affection of vivipa- of the egg, and with the help which that conrous animals for their young is, in like man-stitution requires in order to bring it to maner, solved by the relief, and perhaps the plea- turity? In my opinion, this solution, if it be sure, which they receive from giving suck.accepted as to the fact, ought to increase rather The young animal's seeking, in so many in- than otherwise, our admiration of the contriv stances, the teat of its dam, is explained fromance. A gardener lighting up his stoves, just its sense of smell, which is attracted by the odour of milk. The salmon's urging its way up the stream of fresh-water rivers, is attributed to some gratification or refreshment, which, in this particular state of the fish's body, she receives from the change of element. Now of this theory it may be said,

when he wants to force his fruit, and when his trees require the heat, gives not a more certain evidence of design. So again; when a male and female sparrow come together, they do not meet to confer upon the expediency of perpetuating their species. As an abstract proposition, they care not the value of a bar. First, that of the cases which require solu- ley-corn, whether the species be perpetuated, tion, there are few to which it can be applied or not; they follow their sensations; and all with tolerable probability; that there are none those consequences ensue, which the wisest to which it can be applied without strong ob- counsels could have dictated, which the most jections, furnished by the circumstances of solicitous care of futurity, which the most the case. The attention of the cow to its anxious concern for the sparrow-world, could calf, and of the ewe to its lamb, appear to be have produced. But how do these consequenprior to their sucking. The attraction of the ces ensue? The sensations, and the constitucalf or lamb to the teat of the dam, is not ex- tion upon which they depend, are as manifestplained by simply referring it to the sense of ly directed to the purpose which we see fulsmell. What made the scent of milk so agree-filled by them,) and the train of intermediate able to the lamb, that it should follow it up with its nose, or seek with its mouth the place from which it proceeded? No observation, no experience, no argument could teach the new-dropped animal, that the substance from

effects, as manifestly laid and planned with a view to that purpose: that is to say, design is as completely evinced by the phenomena, as it would be, even if we suppose the operations to begin, or to be carried on, from what some

will allow to be alone properly called instincts, tion of food, to procure and bring home which, that is, from desires directed to a future end, in a sufficient quantity for the demand of a and having no accomplishment or gratification numerous brood, requires the industry of both distinct from the attainment of that end. parents. In this difference, we see a reason

In a word: I should say to the patrons of for the vagrant instinct of the quadruped, and this opinion, Be it so; be it, that those ac- for the faithful love of the feathered mate. tions of animals which we refer to instinct, are not gone about with any view to their consequences, but that they are attended in the animal with a present gratification, and are pursued for the sake of that gratification alone; what does all this prove, but that the prospection, which must be somewhere, is not in the animal, but in the Creator?

CHAPTER XIX.

OF INSECTS

We are not writing a system of natural In treating of the parental affection in history; therefore we have not attended to the brutes, our business lies rather with the origin classes into which the subjects of that science of the principle, than with the effects and ex-are distributed. What we had to observe conpressions of it. Writers recount these with cerning different species of animals, fell easily, pleasure and admiration. The conduct of for the most part, within the divisions which many kinds of animals towards their young, the course of our argument led us to adopt. has escaped no observer, no historian of nature. There remain, however, some remarks upon "How will they caress them," says Derham, the insect tribe, which could not properly be "with their affectionate notes; lull and quiet introduced under any of these heads; and them with their tender parental voice; put which therefore we have collected into a chapfood into their mouths; cherish and keep them ter by themselves.

warm; teach them to pick, and eat, and ga- The structure, and the use of the parts of ther food for themselves; and, in a word, per-[insects, are less understood than that of quadform the part of so many nurses, deputed by rupeds and birds, not only by reason of their the Sovereign Lord and Preserver of the world, minuteness, or the minuteness of their parts to help such young and shiftless creatures!" (for that minuteness we can, in some meaNeither ought it, under this head, to be for- sure, follow with glasses,) but also by reason gotten, how much the instinct costs the ani- of the remoteness of their manners and modes mal which feels it; how much a bird, for ex-of life from those of larger animals. For inample, gives up, by sitting upon her nest; how stance: Insects, under all their varieties of repugnant it is to her organization, her habits, form, are endowed with antenna, which is the and her pleasures. An animal, formed for li- name given to those long feelers that rise from berty, submits to confinement, in the very sea- each side of the head: but to what common son when every thing invites her abroad: what use or want of the insect kind, a provision so is more; an animal delighting in motion, made universal is subservient, has not yet been asfor motion, all whose motions are so easy and certained: and it has not been ascertained, beso free, hardly a moment, at other times, at cause it admits not of a clear, or very probarest, is, for many hours of many days toge-ble comparison, with any organs which we ther, fixed to her nest, as close as if her limbs possess ourselves, or with the organs of aniwere tied down by pins and wires. For my mals which resemble ourselves in their funcpart, I never see a bird in that situation, but tions and faculties, or with which we are betI recognize an invisible hand, detaining the ter acquainted than we are with insects. We contented prisoner from her fields and groves, want a ground of analogy. This difficulty for the purpose, as the event proves, the most stands in our way as to some particulars in worthy of the sacrifice, the most important, the most beneficial.

the insect constitution, which we might wish to be acquainted with. Nevertheless, there are many contrivances in the bodies of insects, neither dubious in their use, nor obscure in their structure, and most properly mechanical These form parts of our argument.

But the loss of liberty is not the whole of what the procreant bird suffers. Harvey tells us, that he has often found the female wasted to skin and bone by sitting upon her eggs. One observation more, I will dismiss the I. The elytra, or scaly wings of the genus subject. The pairing of birds, and the non-of scarabæus or beetle, furnish an example of pairing of beasts, forms a distinction between this kind. The true wing of the animal is a the two classes, which shows, that the conju- light, transparent membrane, finer than the gal instinct is modified with a reference to uti- finest gauze, and not unlike it. It is also, lity founded on the condition of the offspring. when expanded, in proportion to the size of In quadrupeds, the young animal draws its the animal, very large. In order to protect nutriment from the body of the dam. The this delicate structure, and, perhaps, also to male parent neither does, nor can contribute preserve it in a due state of suppleness and huany part to its sustentation. In the winged midity, a strong hard case is given to it, in race, the young bird is supplied by an importa- the shape of the horny wing which we call the

In some insects, the elytra cover the whole body; in others, half; in others, only a small part of it; but in all, they completely hide and cover the true wings. Also,

Many or most of the beetle species lodge in holes in the earth, environed by hard, rough substances, and have frequently to squeeze their way through narrow passages; in which situation wings so tender, and so large, could scarcely have escaped injury, without both a firm covering to defend them, and the capacity of collecting themselves up under its protection.

elytron. When the animal is at rest, the gauze smallness and weakness of the insect, and with wings lie folded up under this impenetrable the soft and friable texture of the rest of the shield. When the beetle prepares for flying, body; are properties of the sting to be noticed, he raises the integument, and spreads out his and not a little to be admired. The sting of thin membrane to the air. And it cannot be a bee will pierce through a goat-skin glove. It observed without admiration, what a tissue of penetrates the human flesh more readily than cordage, i. e. of muscular tendons, must run the finest point of a needle. The action of the in various and complicated, but determinate sting affords an example of the union of chedirections, along this fine surface, in order to mistry and mechanism, such as if it be not a enable the animal, either to gather it up into proof of contrivance, nothing is. First, as to a certain precise form, whenever it desires to the chemistry: how highly concentrated must place its wings under the shelter which nature be the venom, which in so small a quantity, can hath given to them; or to expand again their produce such powerful effects! And in the folds when wanted for action. bee we may observe, that this venom is made from honey, the only food of the insect, but the last material from which I should have expected that an exalted poison could, by any process or digestion whatsoever, have been prepared. In the next place, with respect to the mechanism, the sting is not a simple, but a compound instrument. The visible sting, though drawn to a point exquisitely sharp, is in strictness only a sheath; for, near to the extremity, may be perceived by the microscope two minute orifices, from which orifices, in the act of stinging, and, as it should seem, after the point of the main sting has buried itself II. Another contrivance, equally mechani- in the flesh, are launched out two subtile rays, cal, and equally clear, is the awl, or borer, fix- which may be called the true or proper stings, ed at the tails of various species of flies; and as being those through which the poison is in with which they pierce, in some cases, plants; fused into the puncture already made by the in others, wood; in others, the skin and flesh exterior sting. I have said, that chemistry of animals; in others, the coat of the chrysa- and mechanism are here united: by which oblis of insects of a different species from their servation I meant, that all this machinery own; and in others, even lime, mortar, and would have been useless, telum imbelle, if a supstone. I need not add, that having pierced ply of poison, intense in quality, in proportion the substance, they deposit their eggs in the to the smallness of the drop, had not been furhole. The descriptions which naturalists give nished to it by the chemical elaboration which of this organ, are such as the following: It is was carried on in the insect's body; and that, a sharp-pointed instrument, which in its in- on the other hand, the poison, the result of this active state, lies concealed in the extremity of process, could not have attained its effect, or the abdomen, and which the animal draws out reached its enemy, if, when it was collected at pleasure, for the purpose of making a punc-at the extremity of the abdomen, it had not ture in the leaves, stem, or bark, of the particu- found there a machinery fitted to conduct it lar plant, which is suited to the nourishment of to the external situations in which it was to its young. In a sheath, which divides and operate, viz. an awl to bore a hole, and a syopens whenever the organ is used, there is en-ringe to inject the fluid. Yet these attributes, closed a compact, solid, dentated stem, along which runs a gutter or groove, by which groove, after the penetration is effected, the egg, assisted, in some cases, by a peristaltic motion, passes to its destined lodgement. In the cestrum or gad-fly, the wimble draws out like the pieces of a spy-glass: the last piece is armed with three hooks, and is able to bore through the hide of an ox. Can any thing more be necessary to display the mechanism, than to relate the fact?

III. The slings of insects, though for a different purpose, are, in their structure, not unlike the piercer. The sharpness to which the point in all of them is wrought; the temper and firmness of the substance of which it is composed; the strength of the muscles by which it is darted out, compared with the

though combined in their action, are independent in their origin. The venom does not breed the sting; nor does the sting concoct the venom.

IV. The proboscis, with which many insects are endowed, comes next in order to be considered. It is a tube attached to the head of the animal. In the bee, it is composed of two pie ces, connected by a joint: for, if it were constantly extended, it would be too much expos ed to accidental injuries; therefore, in its indolent state, it is doubled up by means of the joint, and in that position lies secure under a scaly penthouse. In many species of the but terfly, the proboscis, when not in use, is coiled up like a watch-spring. In the same bee, the proboscis serves the office of the mouth, the insect having no other; and how much

better adapted it is, than a mouth would be, integument to the other two, being the farthest for the collecting of the proper nourishment advanced, dies, as we suppose, and drops off of the animal, is sufficiently evident. The first. The second, the pupa or chrysalis, then food of the bee is the nectar of flowers; a drop offers itself to observation. This also, in its of syrup, lodged deep in the bottom of the co-turn dies; its dead and brittle ausk falls to pierollæ, in the recesses of the petals, or down ces, and makes way for the appearance of the the neck of a monopetalous glove. Into these fly or moth. Now, if this be the case, or incells the bee thrusts its long narrow pump, deed whatever explication be adopted, we have through the cavity of which it sucks up this a prospective contrivance of the most curious precious fluid, inaccessible to every other ap-kind: we have organizations three deep; yet a proach. It is observable also, that the plant a vascular system, which supplies nutrition, is not the worse for what the bee does to it. growth, and life, to all of them together. The harmless plunderer rifles the sweets, but VI. Almost all insects are oviparous. Naleaves the flower uninjured. The ringlets of ture keeps her butterflies, moths, and caterwhich the proboscis of the bee is composed, the pillars, locked up during the winter in their muscles by which it is extended and contract-egg-state; and we have to admire the various ed, form so many microscopical wonders. The devices to which, if we may so speak, the agility also, with which it is moved, can hard-same nature hath resorted, for the security of ly fail to excite admiration. But it is enough the egg. Many insects enclose their eggs in for our purpose to observe, in general, the suit- a silken web; others cover them with a coat ableness of the structure to the use, of the of hair, torn from their own bodies; some means to the end, and especially the wisdom by which nature has departed from its most general analogy (for animals being furnished with mouths are such,) when the purpose could be better answered by the deviation."

glue them together; and others, like the moth of the silkworm, glue them to the leaves upon which they are deposited, that they may not be shaken off by the wind, or washed away by rain: some again make incisions into leaves, In some insects, the proboscis, or tongue, or and hide an egg in each incision; whilst some trunk, is shut up in a sharp-pointed sheath: envelope their eggs with a soft substance, which sheath, being of a much firmer texture which forms the first aliment of the young than the proboscis itself, as well as sharpened animal: and some again make a hole in the at the point, pierces the substance which con-earth, and, having stored it with a quantity tains the food, and then opens within the wound, of proper food, deposit their eggs in it. In to allow the enclosed tube, through which the all which we are to observe, that the expejuice is extracted, to perform its office. Can dient depends, not so much upon the address any mechanism be plainer than this is ; or sur- of the animal, as upon the physical resources pass this? of his constitution.

seems to contract it into the least possible space; by which contraction, notwithstanding the smallness of the egg, it has room enough in its apartment, and to spare. This folding of the limbs appears to me to indicate a special direction; for, if it were merely the effect of compression, the collocation of the parts would be more various than it is. In the same species, I believe, it is always the same.

V. The metamorphosis of insects from grubs The art also with which the young insect into moths and flies, is an astonishing process. is coiled up in the egg, presents, where it can A hairy caterpillar is transformed into a but-be examined, a subject of great curiosity. The terfly. Observe the change: We have four insect, furnished with all the members which beautiful wings, where there were none before; it ought to have, is rolled up into a form which a tubular proboscis, in the place of a mouth with jaws and teeth; six long legs, instead of fourteen feet. In another case, we see a white, smooth, soft worm, turned into a black, hard, crustaceous beetle, with gauze wings. These, as I said, are astonishing processes, and must require, as it should seem, a proportionably artificial apparatus. The hypothesis which appears to me most probable is, that, in the grub, there exist at the same time three animals, one within another, all nourished by the same digestion, and by a communicating circulation; but in different stages of maturity. The latest discoveries made by naturalists, seem to favour this supposition. The insect already equipped with wings, is descried under the membranes both of the worm and nymph. In some species, the proboscis, the antennæ, the limbs, and wings of the fly, have been observed to be folded up within the body of the caterpillar; and with such nicety as to occupya small space only under the two first wings. This being so, the outermost animal, which, besides its own proper character, serves as an

These observations belong to the whole insect tribe, or to a great part of them. Other observations are limited to fewer species; but not, perhaps, less important or satisfactory.

I. The organization in the abdomen of the silk-worm, or spider, whereby these insects form their thread, is as incontestably mechanical as a wire-drawer's mill. In the body of the silkworm are two bags, remarkable for their form, position, and use. They wind round the intestine; when drawn out, they are ten inches in length, though the animal itself be only two. Within these bags, is collected a glue; and communicating with the bags, are two

ŕaps or outlets, perforated, like a grater, by a ney, if it had not the wax ? how, at least, could number of small holes. The glue or gum, it store it up for winter? The wax, therefore, being passed through these minute apertures, answers a purpose with respect to the honey; forms hairs of almost imperceptible fineness; and the honey constitutes that purpose with and these hairs, when joined, compose the silk respect to the wax. This is the relation bewhich we wind off from the cone, in which tween them. But the two substances, though, the silk-worm has wrapped itself up: in the together, of the greatest use, and, without each spider, the web is formed from this thread. other, of little, come from a different origin. In both cases, the extremity of the thread, by The bee finds the honey, but makes the wax. means of its adhesive quality, is first attached The honey is lodged in the nectaria of flowers, by the animal to some external hold; and the and probably undergoes little alteration; is end being now fastened to a point, the in- merely collected: whereas the wax is a ducsect, by turning round its body, or by reced- tile, tenacious paste, made out of a dry powing from that point, draws out the thread der, not simply by kneading it with a liquid, through the holes above described, by an ope- but by a digestive process in the body of the ration, as hath been observed, exactly similar bee. What account can be rendered of facts to the drawing of wire. The thread, like the so circumstanced, but that the animal, being wire, is formed by the hole through which it intended to feed upon honey, was, by a pecupasses. In one respect there is a difference. liar external configuration, enabled to procure The wire is the metal unaltered, except in fi- it? That, moreover, wanting the honey when gure. In the animal process, the nature of it could not be procured at all, it was farther the substance is somewhat changed, as well as endued with the no less necessary faculty, of the form; for, as it exists within the insect, constructing repositories for its preservation? it is a soft, clammy gum, or glue. The thread Which faculty, it is evident, must depend, acquires, it is probable, its firmness and tena- primarily, upon the capacity of providing suitcity from the action of the air upon its sur-able materials. Two distinct functions go to face, in the moment of exposure; and a thread make up the ability. First, the power in the so fine is almost all surface. This property, bee, with respect to wax, of loading the farina however, of the paste, is part of the contriv

Ance.

of flowers upon its thighs. Microscopic observers speak of the spoon-shaped appendages with which the thighs of bees are beset for this very purpose; but, inasmuch as the art and will of the bee may be supposed to be concerned in this operation, there is, secondly, that which doth not rest in art or will,-a digestive faculty which converts the loose powder into a stiff substance. This is a just account of the honey and the honey-comb; and this account, through every part, carries a creative intelligence along with it.

The mechanism itself consists of the bags, or reservoirs, into which the glue is collected, and of the external holes communicating with these bags; and the action of the machine is seen, in the forming of a thread, as wire is formed, by forcing the material already prepared through holes of proper dimensions. The secretion is an act too subtle for our discern ment, except as we perceive it by the produce. But one thing answers to another; the secretory glands to the quality and consistence reThe sting also of the bee has this relation to quired in the secreted substance; the bag to the honey, that it is necessary for the protecits reception: the outlets and orifices are con- tion of a treasure which invites so many robstructed, not merely for relieving the reser-bers. voirs of their burden, but for manufacturing| III. Our business is with mechanism. In the contents into a form and texture, of great the panorpa tribe of insects, there is a forceps external use, or rather indeed of future neces- in the tail of the male insect, with which he sity, to the life and functions of the insect. catches and holds the female. Are a pair of II. BEES, under one character or other, pincers more mechanical than this provision in have furnished every naturalist with a set of its structure; or is any structure more clear observations. I shall, in this place, confine and certain in its design? myself to one; and that is the relation which IV. St. Pierre tells us, that in a fly with obtains between the wax and the honey. No six feet (I do not remember that he describes person, who has inspected a bee-hive, can for- the species,) the pair next the head and the bear remarking how commodiously the honey pair next the tail, have brushes at their exis bestowed in the comb; and, amongst other tremities, with which the fly dresses, as there advantages, how effectually the fermentation may be occasion, the anterior or the posterior of the honey is prevented by distributing it in- part of its body; but that the middle pair have to small cells. The fact is, that when the ho- no such brushes, the situation of these legs not ney is separated from the comb, and put into admitting of the brushes, if they were there, jars, it runs into fermentation, with a much being converted to the same use. less degree of heat than what takes place in a very exact mechanical distinction. hive. This may be reckoned a nicety: but, V. If the reader, looking to our distribu. independently of any nicety in the matter, I would ask, what could the bee do with the ho* Vol. i. p. 342.

This is a