BOOK VIII.

Of Insects and Reptiles.

CHAP. I.

Of Insects in general.

Having dispatch’d that Part of the animal World, which used to be accounted the more perfect, those Animals styled less perfect or imperfect, will next deserve a Place in our Survey, because when strictly enquired into, we shall find them to be so far from deserving to be accounted mean and despicable Parts of the Creation, owing their Original and Production to Putrefactions, &c. as some have thought, that we shall find them, I say, noble, and most admirable Works of GOD. For, as the famous Natural Historian, Pliny[a], prefaceth his Treatise of Insects, to prevent the Reproach of condescending (as might be thought) to so mean a Subject: In great Bodies, saith he, Nature had a large and easy Shop to work upon obsequious Matter. Whereas, saith he, in these so small, and as it were no Bodies, what Footsteps of Reason, what Power, what great Perfection is there? Of this having given an Instance or two of the exquisite Senses, and curious Make of some Insects[b], he then goes on, We admire, saith he, turrigerous Shoulders of Elephants, the lofty Necks and Crests of others; but, saith he, the Nature of Things is never more compleat than in the least Things. For which Reason he intreats his Readers (as I do mine) that because they slighted many of the Things themselves which he took notice of, they would not therefore disdainfully condemn his Accounts of them, since, saith he, in the Contemplation of Nature, nothing ought to seem superfluous.

Thus that eminent Naturalist hath made his own, and my Excuse too; the Force and Verity whereof will farther appear, by what I shall say of these Animals which (as despicable as they have been, or perhaps may be thought) we shall find as exquisitely contrived, and curiously made for that Place and Station they bear in the World, as any other Part of the Animal World. For if we consider the innumerable Variety of their Species, the prodigious Numbers of Individuals, the Shape and Make of their little Bodies, and every Part thereof, their Motion, their Instincts, their regular Generation and Production; and, to name no more, the incomparable Beauty and Lustre of the Colours of many of them, what more admirable and more manifest Demonstration of the infinite Creator, than even this little contemned Branch of the Animal World? But let us take a short View of Particulars.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. II.

Of the Shape and Structure of Insects.

Let us begin with the Shape and Fabrick of their Bodies. Which although it be somewhat different from that of Birds, being particularly, for the most part, not so sharp before, to cut and make way through the Air, yet is better adapted to their manner of Life. For considering that there is little Necessity of long Flights, and that the Strength and Activity of their Wings doth much surpass the Resistance their Bodies meet with from the Air, there was no great Occasion their Bodies should be so sharpened before. But the Condition of their Food, and the Manner of gathering it, together with the great Necessity of accurate Vision by that admirable Provision made for them by the reticulated Cornea of their Eyes; these Things, I say, as they required a larger Room, so were a good Occasion for the Largeness of the Head, and its Amplitude before. But for the rest of their Body, all is well made, and nicely poised for their Flight, and every other of their Occasions.

And as their Shape; so the Fabrick and Make of their Bodies is no less accurate, admirable, and singular; not built throughout with Bones, and cover’d with Flesh and Skin, as in most other Animals; but cover’d with a curious Mail of a middle Nature[a], serving both as Skin and Bone too, for the Shape, as well as Strength and Guard of the Body, and as it were on Purpose to shew that the great Contriver of Nature is not bound up to one Way only.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. III.

Of the Eyes and Antennæ of Insects.

To this last-mention’d Guard, we may add, that farther Guard provided in the Eyes and Antennæ. The Structure of the Eye, is, in all Creatures, an admirable Piece of Mechanism; but that observable in the Eyes of Insects so peculiar, that it must needs excite our Admiration: Fenced with its own Hardness, yea, even its own accurate Vision, is a good Guard against external Injuries; and its Cornea, or outward Coat, all over beset with curious, transparent, lenticular[a] Inlets, enabling those Creatures to see, (no doubt,) very accurately every Way, without any Interval of Time or Trouble to move the Eye towards Objects.

And as for the other Part, the Antennæ, or Feelers, whatever their Use may be in cleaning the Eyes, or other such like use; they are, in all Probability, a good Guard to the Eyes and Head, in their Walk and Flight, enabling them, by the Sense of Feeling, to discover such Annoyances, which by their Proximity may perhaps escape the Reach of the Eyes and Sight[b]. Besides which, they are a curious Piece of Workmanship, and in many, a very beautiful Piece of[c] Garniture to the Body.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. IV.

Of the Parts and Motion of Insects.

From the Head, pass we to the Members, concern’d in their Motion. And here we have a copious Subject, if I was minded to expatiate. I might take Notice of the admirable Mechanism in those that creep; the curious Oars in those amphibious Insects that swim and walk[a]; the incomparable Provision made in the Feet of such as walk, or hang upon smooth Surfaces[b]; the great Strength and Spring in the Legs of such as leap[c]; the strong and well-made Feet and Talons of such as dig[d]: And to name no more, the admirable Faculty of such as cannot fly, to convey themselves with Speed and Safety, by the Help of their Webs[e], or some other Artifice to make their Bodies lighter than the Air[f]: These, and a Multitude of other such like Things as these, I might, I say, take Notice of, as great Evidences of the infinite Creator’s Wisdom: But lest I should be too tedious, I will confine my Observations to the Legs and Wings only. And these, at first View, we find to be incomparably fitted up for their intended Service, not to over-load the body, not in the least to retard it; but to give it the most proper and convenient Motion. What, for Example, can be better contriv’d, and made for this Service, than the Wings? Distended and strengthen’d by the finest Bones, and these cover’d with the finest and lightest Membranes, some of them adorn’d with neat and beautiful Feathers[g]; and many of them provided with the finest Articulations, and Foldings, for the Wings to be withdrawn, and neatly laid up in their Vaginæ, and Cases, and again readily extended for Flight[h].

And then for the Poising of the Body, and keeping it upright, and steady in Flight, it is an admirable Artifice and Provision for this Purpose; in some, by four Wings[i]; and in such as have but two, by Pointels, and Poises plac’d under the Wings, on each Side the Body.

And lastly, It is an amazing Thing to reflect upon the surprizing Minuteness, Art, and Curiosity of the[k] Joynts, the Muscles, the Tendons, the Nerves, necessary to perform all the Motions of the Legs, the Wings, and every other Part. I have already mention’d this in the larger Animals; but to consider, that all these Things concur in minute Animals, even in the smallest Mite; yea, the Animalcules, that, (without good Microscopes,) escape our Sight; to consider, I say, that those minutest Animals have all the Joynts, Bones, Muscles, Tendons and Nerves, necessary to that brisk and swift Motion that many of them have, is so stupendous a Piece of curious Art[l], as plainly manifesteth the Power and Wisdom of the infinite Contriver of those inimitable Fineries. But having nam’d those minute Animals, Why should I mention only any one Part of their Bodies, when we have, in that little Compass, a whole and compleat Body, as exquisitely form’d, and, (as far as our Scrutiny can possibly reach,) as neatly adorn’d as the largest Animal? Let us consider, that there we have Eyes, a Brain, a Mouth, a Stomach, Entrails, and every other Part of an animal Body, as well as Legs and Feet; and that all those Parts have each of them their necessary Apparatus of Nerves, of various Muscles, and every other Part that other Insects have; and that all is cover’d and guarded with a well-made Tegument, beset with Bristles, adorn’d with neat Imbrications, and many other Fineries. And lastly, Let us consider in how little Compass all Art and Curiosity may lie, even in a Body many Times less than a small Grain of Sand[m]; so that the least Drop of Water can contain many of them, and afford them also sufficient Room to dance and frisk about in[n].

Having survey’d as many of the Parts of Insects as I care to take Notice of; I shall in the next Place say somewhat of their State, and Circumstances of Life. And here I shall take Notice only of two Things, which have been only hinted at before; but will deserve more particular Consideration here, as being Acts of a wonderful Instinct; namely, Their Security of themselves against Winter; and their special Care of preserving their Species.

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. V.

The Sagacity of Insects to secure themselves against Winter.

It is an extraordinary Act of Instinct and Sagacity, observable in the generality of the Insect-Tribe, that they all take Care to secure themselves, and provide against the Necessities of Winter. That when the Distresses of Cold and Wet force them, they should retire to warm and dry Places of Safety, is not strange; but it is a prodigious Act of the infinite Conservator’s Care to enable some to live in a different Kind of Insect-State; others to live, as without Action, so without Food; and others that act and eat, to lay up in Summer sufficient Provisions against the approaching Winter. Some, I say, live in a different State. For having sufficiently fed, nourished, and bred up themselves to the Perfection of their Vermicular, Nympha-State, in the Summer-Months, they then retire to Places of Safety, and there throw off their Nympha, and put on their Aurelia or Chrysalis-State for all the Winter, in which there are no Occasions for Food. This is the constant Method of many Families of the Insect-Tribe[a].

But there are others, and some of them in their most perfect State too, that are able to subsist in a kind of Torpitude or Sleeping State, without any Food at all; by Reason as there is no Action so no Waste of Body, no Expence of Spirits, and therefore no need of Food[b].

But for others that move and act, and need Food, it is a prodigious Instinct and Foresight the Creator hath imprinted on them, to lay up sufficient Food in Summer for the Winter’s[c] Necessities and Occasions. And it is very pretty to see with what unwearied Diligence all Hands are at work for that Purpose, all the warmer Months. Of this the Holy Scripture it self gives us an Instance in the Ant, calling that little Animal exceeding wise, Prov. xxx. 24. And the Reason is, ℣. 25. The Ants are a People not strong, yet they prepare their Meat in the Summer. And therefore Solomon sends the Sluggard to this little contemptible Creature, to learn Wisdom, Foresight, Care and Diligence, Prov. vi. 6, 7, 8. Go to the Ant, thou Sluggard, consider her Ways, and be wise: which having no Guide, Overseer, or Ruler, provideth her Meat in the Summer, and gathereth her Food in the Harvest.

To this Scriptural Example, give me leave to anticipate, and subjoin an Observation of the farther great Wisdom of this little Creature; and that is their unparallelled Στοργὴ, their Tenderness, Sagacity, and Diligence about their Young[d]. ’Tis very diverting, as well as admirable to see, with what Affection and Care they carry about their Young in their Mouths, how they expose themselves to the greatest Dangers, rather than leave their Young exposed or forsaken; how they remove them from Place to Place in their little Hills, sometimes to this Part, sometimes to that, for the Benefit of convenient Warmth, and proper Moisture; and then again withdraw, and guard them against Rain and Cold. Now that this great Wisdom which the Scriptures attribute unto, and is discernible in this little Animal, is owing only to the Instinct, or Infusions of the great Conservator of the World, is evident, because either this Wisdom, Thought, and Forecast, is an Act of the Animal it self, or of some other Being that hath Wisdom. But the Animal being irrational, ’tis impossible it can be its own Act, but must be derived, or received from some wise Being. And who? What can that be, but the infinite Lord, Conservator and Governour of all the World?

FOOTNOTES:

CHAP. VI.

Of the Care of Insects about their Young.

The other notable Instinct I am to treat of, is the peculiar Art and Care of the Insect-Tribe, about the Preservation of their Species. Here I might speak of many Things, but I have occasionally mentioned divers of them before, under some or other of the general Heads, and therefore shall fix only upon two Things relating to their special Art and Care about the Production[a] of their Young, which have not been so particularly spoken to as they deserve.

One Thing is their singular Providence for their Young, in making or finding out such proper Receptacles and Places for their Eggs and Seed, as that they may receive the Advantage of a sufficient Incubation, and that the Young, when produced, may have the Benefit of proper and sufficient Food for their Nurture and Education, till they are able to shift for themselves. It is admirable to see with what Diligence and Care the several Species of Insects lay up their Eggs or Sperm in their several proper Places; not all in the Waters, in Wood, or on Vegetables; but those whose Subsistence is in the Waters[b], in the Water; those to whom Flesh is a proper Food; in Flesh[c]; those to whom the Fruits[d] or Leaves of Vegetables are Food, are accordingly reposited, some in this Fruit, some on this Tree[e], some on that Plant[f], some on another, and another; but constantly the same Family on the same Tree or Plant, the most agreeable to that Family. And as for others that require a constant and greater Degree of Warmth, they are accordingly provided by the Parent-Animal with some Place in or about the Body of other Animals; some in the Feathers of Birds[g]; some in the Hair of Beasts[h]; some in the very Scales of Fishes[i]; some in the Nose[k]; some in the Flesh[l]; yea, some in the very Bowels[m]; and inmost Recesses of the Bodies of Man and other Creatures[n]: And as for others to whom none of these Methods are proper, but make themselves Nests by Perforations in the Earth, in Wood, or Combs they build, or such like Ways; ’tis admirable to see with what Labour and Care they carry in, and seal up Provisions, that serve both for the Production of their Young, as also for their Food and Nurture when produc’d[o].

The other Piece of remarkable Art and Care about the Production of their Young, is their Curiosity and Neatness in repositing their Eggs, and in their Nidification.

As to the first of which, we may observe that great Curiosity, and nice Order is generally observ’d by them in this Matter. You shall always see their Eggs laid carefully and commodiously up[p]. When upon the Leaves of Vegetables, or other Material on Land, always glu’d thereon with Care, with one certain End lowermost, and with handsom juxta-Positions[q]. Or if in the Waters, in neat and beautiful Rows oftentimes, in that spermatick, gelatine Matter, in which they are reposited, and that Matter carefully ty’d and fastned in the Waters, to prevent its Dissipation[r], or if made to float, so carefully spread and poised, as to swim about with all possible Artifice.

And as to their other Faculty, that of Nidification, whether it be exerted by boring the Earth or Wood, or building themselves Cells[s], or spinning and weaving themselves Cases and Webs, it is all a wonderful Faculty of those poor little Animals, whether we consider their Parts wherewith they work, or their Work it self. Thus those who perforate the Earth, Wood, or such like, they have their Legs, Feet, Mouth, yea, and whole Body accommodated to that Service; their Mouth exactly formed to gnaw those handsome round Holes, their Feet as well made to scratch and bore[t], and their Body handsomely turned and fitted to follow. But for such as build or spin themselves Nests, their Art justly bids Defiance to the most ingenious Artist among Men, so much as tolerably to copy the nice Geometrical Combs of some[u], the Earthen Cells of others, or the Webs, Nets and Cases[w] woven by others. And here that natural Glue[x] which their Bodies afford some of them to consolidate their Work, and combine its Materials together, and which in others can be darted out at Pleasure, and spun and woven by them into silken Balls[y] or Webs. I say, this so peculiar, so serviceable a Material, together with the curious Structure of all Parts ministring to this textrine Power, as mean a Business as it may seem, is such as may justly be accounted among the noble Designs and Works of the infinite Creator and Conservator of the World.

In the last Place, there is another prodigious Faculty, Art, Cunning, or what shall I call it? that others of those little Animals have, to make even Nature it self serviceable to their Purpose; and that is the making the Vegetation and Growth of Trees and Plants, the very Means of the building of their little Nests and Cells[z]; such, as are the Galls and Balls found on the Leaves and Branches of divers Vegetables, such as the Oak, the Willow[aa], the Briar, and some others.

Now this is so peculiar an Artifice, and so far out of the Reach of any mortal Understanding, Wit, or Power, that if we consider the Matter, with some of its Circumstances, we must needs perceive manifest Design, and that there is the Concurrence of some great and wise Being, that hath, from the Beginning, taken Care of, and provided for the Animal’s Good: For which Reason, as mean as the Instance may seem, I might be excused, if I should enlarge upon its Particulars. But two or three Hints shall suffice.

In the first Place, ’tis certain that the Formation of those Cases and Balls quite exceeds the Cunning of the Animal it self; but it is the Act partly of the Vegetable, and partly of some Virulency (or what shall I call it?) in the Juyce, or Egg, or both, reposited on the Vegetable by the Parent Animal[bb]. And as this Virulency is various, according to the Difference of its Animal, so is the Form and Texture of the Cases and Balls excited thereby; some being hard Shells[cc], some tender Balls[dd], some scaly[ee], some smooth[ff], some Hairy[gg], some Long, some Round, some Conical, &c.[hh]. And in the last Place, let us add, That those Species of Insects are all endowed with peculiar and exactly made Parts for this Service, to bore and pierce the Vegetable, and to reach and inject their Eggs and Juice into the tender Parts thereof.

FOOTNOTES:

The Conclusion.

And now these Things being seriously considered, what less can be concluded, than that there is manifest Design and Forecast in this Case, and that there must needs be some wise Artist, some careful, prudent Conservator, that from the very Beginning of the Existence of this Species of Animals, hath with great Dexterity and Forecast, provided for its Preservation and Good? For what else could contrive and make such a Set of curious Parts, exactly fitted up for that special Purpose: And withal implant in the Body such peculiar Impregnations, as should have such a strange uncouth Power on a quite different Rank of Creatures? And lastly, what should make the Insect aware of this its strange Faculty and Power, and teach it so cunningly and dextrously to employ it for its own Service and Good?