BOOK VIII.

_Of INSECTS and REPTILES._

[Illustration]

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:

[a] _In magnis siquidem corporibus, ~&c.~_ Plin. Nat. Hist. L. 11. c. 2.

[b] _Ubi tot sensus collocavit in Culice? Et sunt alla dictu minora. Sed ubi Visum in eo prætendit: Ubi Gustatum applicavit? Ubi Odoratum inferuit? Ubi verò truculentam illam & portione maximam vocem ingeneravit? Quâ subtilitate Pennas adnexuit? prælongavit Pedum crura? Desposuit jejunam Caveam, utì Alvum? Avidam Sanguinis, & potissimum humani, sitim, accendit? Telum verò perfodiendo tergori, quo spiculavit ingenio? Atque ut capaci, cùm cerni non possit exilitas, ita reciprocâ geminavit arte, ut fodiendo acuminatum pariter sorbendoque fistulosum esset. Quos Teredini ad perforanda Robora cum sono teste dentes affixit? Potissimumque è ligno cibatum fecit: Sed turrigeros Elephantorum miramur humeros, Taurorumque colla, & truces in sublime jactus, Tigrium rapinas, Leonum jubas, cùm rerum natura nusquam magìs quàm in minimis, tota sit._ Plin. ibid.

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:

[a] _Insecta non videntur Nervos habere, nec Ossa, nec Spinas, nec Cartilaginem, nec Pinguia, nec Carnes, ne crustam quidem fragilem, ut quædam marina, nec quæ jure dicatur Curis: sed media cujusdam inter omnia hæc naturæ corpus, ~&c.~_ Plin. N. H. L. 11. c. 4.

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:

[a] The _Cornea_ of Flies, Wasps, _&c._ are so common an Entertainment with the Microscope, that every body knows it is a curious Piece of Lattice-work. In which this is remarkable, that every _Foramen_ is of a lenticular Nature; so that we see Objects through them topsey-turvey, as through so many convex Glasses: Yea, they become a small Telescope, when there is a due focal Distance between them and the _Lens_ of the Microscope.

This lenticular Power of the _Cornea_, supplies, (as I imagine,) the Place of the Crystalline, if not of the vitreous Humour too, there being neither of those Humours that I could ever find, (although for Truth Sake, I confess I have not been so diligent as I might in this Enquiry;) but instead of _Humours_ and _Tunicks_, I imagine that every _Lens_ of the _Cornea_, hath a distinct Branch of the _optick Nerve_ ministring to it, and rendring it as so many distinct Eyes. So that as most Animals are binocular, Spiders for the most Part octonocular, and some, (as Mr. _Willughby_ thought, _Raii Hist. Insect._ p. 12.) senocular; so Flies, _&c._ are multocular, having as many Eyes as there are Perforations in their _Cornea_. By which Means, as other Creatures are oblig’d to turn their Eyes to Objects, these have some or other of their Eyes ready plac’d towards Objects, nearly all round them: Thus particularly it is in the _Dragon-Fly_, (_Libella_,) the greatest Part of whose Head is possess’d by its Eyes: Which is of excellent Use to that predatious Insect, for the ready seeing and darting at small Flies all round it, on which it preys.

[b] It is manifest, that Insects clean their Eyes with their Fore-legs, as well as _Antennæ_. And considering, that as they walk along, they are perpetually feeling, and searching before them, with their _Feelers_, or _Antennæ_; therefore I am apt to think, that besides wiping and cleaning the Eyes, the Uses here nam’d may be admitted. For as their Eyes are immoveable, so that no Time is requir’d for the turning their Eyes to Objects; so there is no Necessity of the _Retina_, or _optick Nerve_ being brought nigher unto, or set farther off from the _Cornea_, (which would require Time,) as it is in other Animals: But their _Cornea_ and _optick Nerve_, being always at one and the same Distance, are fitted only to see distantial Objects, but not such as are very nigh: Which Inconvenience the _Feelers_ obviate, lest it should be prejudicial, in occasioning the Insect to run its Head against any Thing.

And that this, rather than the wiping the Eyes, is the chief Use of the _Feelers_, is farther manifest from the _Antennæ_ of the _Flesh-Fly_, and many other Insects, which are short, and strait, and incapable of being bent unto, or extended over the Eyes: As also from others enormously long, such as those of the _Capricorni_, or _Goat-chasers_, the _Cadew-Fly_, and divers others, both Beetles and Flies.

[c] The lamellated _Antennæ_ of some, the clavellated of others, the neatly articulated of others, the feather’d and divers other Forms of others, of the _Scarab_, _Papilionaceous Gnat_, and other Kinds; are surprizingly beautiful, when view’d through a Microscope. And in some, those _Antennæ_ distinguish the Sexes: As in the _Gnat-kind_, all those with Tufts, Feathers, and Brush-horns, are Males; those with short, single shafted _Antennæ_, are Females.

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:

[a] All the Families of _Hydrocanthari_, _Notonecti_, &c. have their hindmost Legs made very nicely, with commodious Joynts flat, and Bristles on each Sides towards the End, serving for Oars to swim; and then, nearer the Body, are two stiff Spikes, to enable them to walk when Occasion is.

[b] I might here name divers Flies, and other Insects, who, besides their sharp hook’d Nails, have alto skinny Palms to their Feet, to enable them to stick on Glass, and other smooth Bodies, by Means of the Pressure of the Atmosphere. But because the Example will illustrate another Work of Nature, as well as this, I shall chuse a singular Piece of Mechanism, in one of the largest Sorts of _Hydrocanthari_. Of these large ones there are two Sorts, one largest, all black, with _Antennæ_ handsomely emboss’d at the Ends. The other somewhat lesser, hardly so black, with capillary _Antennæ_; the Forehead, Edges of the _Vaginæ_, and two Rings on the _Thorax_, of a tawney Colour. The Female hath _Vaginæ_ prettily furrow’d, the Male smooth. But that which is most to our Purpose in this Male, is a Flap, or hollowish Cap near the middle Joynt of the Fore-legs; which when clap’d on the Shoulders of the Female _in Coitu_, sticks firmly thereon: After the Manner as I have seen Boys carry heavy Stones, with only a wet Piece of Leather clap’d on the Top of the Stone.

[c] Thus, _Grasshoppers_ and _Crickets_ have brawny strong Thighs, with long, slender, but strong Legs, which enable them to leap with great Agility and Strength.

[d] I have wonder’d to see with what great Quickness, Art and Strength, many _Vespæ-Ichneumons_, _Wild-Bees_, and _Beetles_, perforate the Earth; yea, even Wood it self: But the most remarkable Animal to this Way, is the _Mole-Cricket_ in _Book IV. Chap. 13. Note (s)._

[e] I have with Pleasure often seen Spiders dart out their Webs, and sail away by the Help thereof. For the Manner of which, see Mr. _Lowth_, Abridg. _Vol. 2. p. 794._ from Dr. _Lister_ and Dr. _Hulse_, who both claim’d the Discovery thereof. And do both seem to have hit thereupon, without any Foreknowledge of what each other hath discover’d, as is said in the last cited Place, and as I more particularly find by Mr. _Ray_’s _Philos._ Letters, Printed _Ann. 1718_. p. 95, _&c._ By which also I find the two ingenious Doctors were very modest in their Claims, and very amicable in the Matter. In one of Dr. _Lister_’s to Mr. _Ray_, he thinks there is a fair Hint of the Darting of Spiders in _Arist. Hist. An._ L. 9. c. 39. And in _Pliny_, L. 11. c. 24. But for their Sailing, that the Ancients are silent of, and he thinks it was seen first by him. And in another Letter, _Jan. 20, 1670_, speaking of the Height Spiders are able to fly, he saith, _The last ~October~, &c. I took Notice, that the Air was very full of Webs, I forthwith mounted to the Top of the highest Steeple on the Minster, ~[in York,]~ and could thence discern them yet exceeding high above me. Some that fell, and were intangled upon the Pinacles, I took and found them to be ~Lupi~: which Kind seldom or never enter Houses, and cannot be suppos’d to have taken their Flight from the Steeple._

[f] There are, (I imagine,) divers Animals, as well as Spiders, that have some Way of Conveyance, as little known to us, as that of Spiders formerly was. Thus the _Squillulæ_, _pulices Arborescentes_, and _microscopical Animalcules_ of the stagnating Waters, so numerous in them, as to discolour sometimes the Water, and make them look as if they were tinged Red, Yellow or Green, or cover’d with a thick green Scum; all which is nothing but Animalcules of that Colour. That these Creatures have some Way of Conveyance, I conclude: because most stagnating Waters are stock’d with them; new Pits and Ponds, yea, Holes and Gutters on the Tops of Houses and Steeples. That they are not bred there by æquivocal Generation, every ingenious, considering Philosopher will grant; that they have not Legs for travelling so far, is manifest from Inspection: And therefore I am apt to think, that they have some Faculty of inflating their Bodies, or darting out Webs, and making their Bodies buoyant, and lighter than Air; or their Bodies, when dry, may be lighter than Air, and so they can swim from Place to Place; or the Eggs of such as are oviparous, may be light enough to float in the Air. But then the Viviparous, (as my late ingenious Friend, Mr. _Charles King_, shew’d me the _Pulices aquat. arbores._ are; these I say,) can’t be this Way accounted for. The Cause of these latter Suspicions was, that in the Summer Months, I have seen the _Pulices arbores._ and the green Scum on the Waters, (nothing but Animalcules, as I said,) lie in a Manner dry on the Surface of the Waters; at which Time, (as I have shewn in _Book IV. Chap. 11. Note (n)_,) those Animalcules copulate; and perhaps, they may at the same Time change their Quarters, and seek out new Habitations for their numerous Offspring, as well as themselves.

[g] It is well known to all Persons any Way conversant in microscopical Observations, that these elegant Colours of _Moths_, and _Butterflies_, are owing to neat and well-made Feathers, set with great Curiosity and Exactness in Rows, and good Order.

[h] All that have _Elytra_, _Scarabs_ (who have whole _Elytra_, or reaching to the _Podex_,) or the Ἡμικουλεόπτεροι, such as _Earwigs_, and _Staphylini_ of all Sorts, do, by a very curious Mechanism, extend and withdraw their membranaceous Wings, (wherewith they chiefly fly;) and it is very pretty to see them prepare themselves for Flight, by thrusting out, and unfolding their Wings; and again withdraw those Joynts, and neatly fold in the Membranes, to be laid up safely in their _Elytra_ or Cases. For which Service the Bones are well plac’d, and the Joynts ministring thereunto are accurately contriv’d, for the most compendious, and commodious folding up the Wings.

[i] For the keeping the Body steady and upright in Flight, it generally holds true, (if I mistake not,) that all bipennated Insects have _Poises_ joyn’d to the Body, under the hinder Part of their Wings; but such as have four Wings, or Wings with _Elytra_, none. If one of the Poises, or one of the lesser auxiliary Wings be cut off, the Insect will fly as if one Side overbalanc’d the other, until it falleth on the Ground; so if both be cut of, they will fly aukwardly, and unsteadily, manifesting the Defect of some very necessary Part. These _Poises_, or _Pointells_ are, for the most Part, little Balls, set at the Top of a slender Stalk, which they can move every Way at Pleasure. In some they stand alone, in others, (as in the whole _Flesh-Fly_ Tribe,) they have little Covers or Shields, under which they lie and move. The Use, no doubt, of these _Poises_, and _secondary_ lesser Wings, is to poise the Body, and to obviate all the Vacillations thereof in flight; serving to the Insect, as the long Pole, laden at the Ends with Lead, doth the _Ropedancer_.

[k] As all the Parts of Animals are mov’d by the Help of these; so there is, no doubt, but the minutest Animals have such like Parts: But the Muscles and Tendons of some of the larger Insects, and some of the lesser too, may be seen with a Microscope.

[l] The minute Curiosities, and inimitable Fineries, observable in those lesser Animals, in which our best Microscopes discover no Botch, no rude ill-made Work, (contrary to what is in all artificial Works of Man,) Do they not far more deserve our Admiration, than those celebrated Pieces of humane Art? Such as the Cup made of a Pepper-Corn, by _Oswald Nerlinger_, that held 1200 ivory Cups, all gilt on the Edges, and having each of them a Foot, and yet affording Room for 400 more, in the _Ephem. Germ._ T. 1. Addend. ad Obs. 13. Such also was _Phaëton_ in a Ring, which _Galen_ thus reflects upon, when he speaks of the Art and Wisdom of the Maker of Animals, particularly such as are small, _Quanto_, saith he, _ipsum minus fuerit, tanto majorem admirationem tibi excitabit; quod declarant Opifices cùm in corporibus parvis aliquid insculpant: cujus generis est quòd nuper quidam in Annulo Phaëtonta quatuor equis invectum sculpsit. Omnes enim æqui frænum, os, & dentes anteriores habebant, ~&c.~_ And then having taken Notice, that the Legs were no bigger than those of a _Gnat_, he shews that their Make did not come up to those of the _Gnat_; as also, saith he, _Major adhuc alia quædam esse videtur artis ejus, qui Pulicem condidit, Vis atque Sapientia, quod, ~&c.~ Cùm igitur Ars tanta in tam abjectis animalibus appareat,——quantam ejus Vim ac Sapientiam in præstantioribus inesse putabimus?_ Galen. de Us. Part. L. 17. c. 1. fin.

[m] It will in some Measure appear, how wonderfully minute some microscopical Animalcules are, by what follows in the next Note. But because more particular Examples would be endless, I shall refer to the Observations of Mr. _Leuwenhoeck_, and others, in the _Philos. Trans._ and elsewhere.

[n] It is almost impossible, by Reason of their perpetual Motion, and changing Places, to count the Number of the Animalcules, in only a Drop of the green Scum upon Water; but I guess I have sometimes seen not fewer than 100 frisking about in a Drop no bigger than a Pin’s Head. But in such a Drop of Pepper-water, a far greater Number; these being much less than those.

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:

[a] It would be endless to enter into Particulars here, because all the _Papilionaceous_, _Flesh_, and _Ichneumon-Fly_ Tribes, and all others that undergo the _Nympha_ and _Aurelia_-State, between that of the Egg and _Mature_-State, (which are very numerous) appertain to this Note. For a Sample therefore only, I shall take what some may think a mean one, but if considered, deserves our Admiration, and that is the Sagacity of the _White Butter-fly Caterpiller_, which having fed it self its due Time, then retires to Places of Security. I have seen great Trains of them creeping up the Walls and Posts of the next Houses, where, with the help of some Cobweb-like Filaments, they hang themselves to the Cielings, and other commodious Places, and then become _Aureliæ_; in which State and Places they hang secure from Wet and Cold, till the Spring and warmer Months, when they are transmuted into Butter-Flies.

[b] I shall not name any of the particular Species of Insects which live in this State, because they are very numerous, but only remark two Things observable in their Sagacity in this Matter: 1. That they are not driven by Stress of Weather to their Retirement, but seem as naturally to betake themselves thereto, as other Animals do to Rest and Sleep. For before the Approach of cold Weather, towards the End of Summer, we may see some Kinds of them flocking together in great Numbers within Doors (as _Swallows_ do a little before they leave us) as if they were making ready for their Winter’s Rest. 2. That every Species betakes it self to a proper convenient Receptacle; some under the Waters to the Bottoms of Ponds; some under the Earth, below the Frosts; some under Timber, Stone, &c. lying on the Ground; some into hollow Trees, or under the Bark, or in the Wood; some into warm and dry Places; and some into dry alone.

[c] There are not many Kinds that thus provide their Food before-hand. The most remarkable, are the _Ant_ and the _Bee_; concerning the first of which, _Origen_ hath this Remark, _viz._ _De solertiâ Formicarum, venturæ hyemi maturè prospiciontium, sibique invicem sub onere sessis succurrentium; quódque fruges arrosas condunt, ne rursus enascantur, sed per annum alimento sint, non ratiocinationem Formicarum in causâ debemus credere, sed almam matrem Naturam bruta quoque sic ornantem, ut etiam minimis addat sua quædam ingenia._ Orig. cont. Cels. L. 4.

But as for _Wasps_, _Hornets_, _Humble Bees_, and other _Wild-Bees_, _Vespæ Ichneumons_, and divers others that carry in Materials for Nests and Food; this is only for the Service of their Generation, for hatching their Eggs, and nourishing their Young, not for Supplies in Winter; for they all forsake their Nests towards Winter, and retire to other Quarters, living (I conceive) without Food all that Time.

[d] _Hos vermiculos ~[Formicarum Ova vulgò vocatos]~ incredibili Στοργὴ & curâ Formicæ educant, summamque dant operam, ne vel tantillum, quod spectet eorum vermiculorum educationem atque nutritionem, omittant; quem in finem fere semper eosdem ore circumportant secum, ne ulla eos lædet injuria. In museo meo nonnullas istius generis formicas, vitro terrâ repleto, conclusas cum Vermiculis istis adservabam; ibi non sine jucunditate spectabam, quo terra fieret in superficie siccior, eo profundiùs Formicas cum fœtibus suis prorepere: cùm verò aquam adfunderem, visu mirificum erat, quanto affectu, quanta solicitudine, quanta Στοργὴ omnem in eo collacarent operam, ut fœtus suos sicciore & tuto loco reponerent. Sæpiùs vidi, cùm aliquot diebus aquâ caruissent, atque cùm affuso tantillo aquæ terram illam humectarem, è vestigio à Formicis fœtus suos eo loci fuisse allatos, quos ibi distinctè conspiciebam moveri atque fugere humorem. Multoties fui conatus, ut eos Vermiculos ipse educarem, at semper conatum fefellit eventus: neque ipsas Formicarum Nymphas alimenti jam non indigas unquam sine ipsis Formicis potui fotu artificiali excludere._ J. Swammerd. Epilog. ad Hist. Insect. p. 153.

Sir _Edward King_, who was very curious in examining the Generation of _Ants_, observes their great Care and Diligence, 1. About their Sperm, or true Eggs, which is a fine white Substance, like Sugar, which they diligently gather together into a Heap, when scattered; and on which they lie in Multitudes. (I suppose, by way of Incubation.) 2. I have observed, saith he, in Summer, that in the Morning they bring up those of their Young (call’d Ant-Eggs) towards the Top of the Bank: So that you may from 10 in the Morning, until 5 or 6 Afternoon, find them near the Top——for the most Part on the South-side the Bank. But towards 7 or 8 at Night, if it be cool, or likely to rain, you may dig a Foot deep before you can find them. _Philos. Trans._ Nᵒ. 23. or _Lowthorp_’s _Abridg._ V. 2. p. 7. and 9.

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:

[a] The Doctrine of Æquivocal Generation, is at this Day so sufficiently exploded by all learned Philosophers, that I shall not enter the Dispute, but take it for granted, that all Animals spring from other Parent-Animals. If the Reader hath any doubt about it, I refer him to _Seigneur Redi de Gen. Insect._ and M. _Ray_’s _Wisd. of God_, &c. p. 344. See also before, _Book IV. Ch. 15. Note (a)._

[b] It would be endless to specify the various Species of Insects, that have their Generation in the Waters. And therefore I shall only observe of them, 1. That their Eggs are always laid up with great Care, and in good Order. And also, 2. Where proper and sufficient Food is. 3. That in their _Nympha_-State in the Waters, they have Parts proper for Food and Motion; and in many, or most of them, very different from what they have in their _Mature_-State, a manifest Argument of the Creator’s Wisdom and Providence. For an Instance, see _Note (r)._

[c] As _Seigneur Redi_ was one of the first that made it his Business to discard Anomalous Generation, so he tried more Experiments relating to the Vermination of Serpents, Flesh, Fish, putrified Vegetables; and in short, whatever was commonly known to be the Nursery of Maggots, more I say probably, than any one hath done since. And in all his Observations, he constantly found the Maggots to turn to _Aureliæ_, and these into _Flies_. But then, saith he, _Dubitare cœpi, utrùm omne hoc vermium in carne genus, ex solo Muscarum semine, an ex ipsis putrefactis carnibus oriretur, tantoque magis confirmabar in hoc meo dubio, quanto in omnibus generationibus——sapiùs videram, in carnibus, antequàm verminare inciperent, resedisse ejusdem speciei Muscas, cujus propago postea nascebatur._ Upon this he tells us, he put Fish, Flesh, _&c._ into Pots, which he covered close from the Flies with Paper, and afterwards (for the free Air sake) with Lawn, whilst other Pots were left open, with such like Flesh, _&c._ in them; that the Flies were very eager to get into the covered Pots; and that they produced not one Maggot, when the open ones had many. _Fr. Redi de Gener._ _Insect._

Among the Insects that come from the Maggots he mentions, he names _Culices_. Now from the most critical Observations I have made, I never observed any sort of _Gnat_ to come from putrified Flesh, Vegetables, or any other Thing he taxeth with them. So that either he means by _Culex_, some Fly that we call not by the Name of _Gnat_; or else their _Gnats_ in _Italy_, vary in their Generation from ours in _England_. For among above 30, near 40 distinct Species of _Gnats_ that I have observed about the Place where I live, I never found any to lay their Eggs in Flesh, Filth, _&c._ but the largest Sort, called by _Aldrovand_, _Culices maximi_, by _Swammerdam_, _Tipulæ terrestres_, lay their Eggs in Meadows, _&c._ under the Grass; one of the larger middle Sort, in dead Beer, Yeast, _&c._ lying on the Tops, or in the Leaks of Beer-Barrels, _&c._ and all the rest (as far as ever I have observed) lay and hatch in the Waters, as in _Note (r)._

The Generation of the Second of these being akin to some of the foregoing instances, and a little out of the way, may deserve a Place here. This _Gnat_ lays its Eggs commonly in dead Beer, _&c._ as I said, and probably in Vinegar, and other such Liquors. Some Time after which, the Maggots are so numerous, that the whole Liquor stirreth as if it was alive; being full of Maggots, some larger, some smaller; the larger are the off-spring of our _Gnat_, the smaller, of a small dark coloured Fly, tending to reddish; frequent in Cellars, and such obscure Places. All these _Maggots_ turn to _Aurelia_, the larger of which, of a Tan-Colour, such as our _Gnat_. This _Gnat_ is of the unarmed Kind, having no Spear in its Mouth. Its Head is larger than of the common _Gnats_, a longer Neck, short jointed _Antennæ_, spotted Wings, reaching beyond its slender _Alvus_; it is throughout of a brown Colour, tending to red, especially in the Female: The chief Difference between the Male and Female, is (as in other _Gnats_, yea, most Insects) the Male is less than the Female, and hath a slenderer Belly, and its _Podex_ not so sharp as the Female’s is.

[d] The Insects that infest Fruits, are either of the _Ichneumon-Fly_ Kind, or _Phalænæ_. Plums, Pease, Nuts, _&c._ produce some or other _Ichneumon-Fly_. That generated in the _Plum_ is black, of a middle Size, its _Body_ near ³⁄₁₀ Inch long, its Tail not much less, consisting of three Bristles, wherewith it conveys its Eggs into Fruits: Its _Antennæ_, or Horns, long, slender, recurved; its Belly longish, tapering, small towards the _Thorax_; _Legs_ reddish; _Wings_ membranaceous, thin and transparent, in Number 4, which is one Characteristic of the _Ichneumon Fly_.

The _Pease Ichneumon-Fly_, is very small, Wings large, reaching beyond the _Podex_; _Antennæ_ long; _Alvus_ short, shaped like an Heart, with the Point towards the _Anus_; it walketh and flieth slowly. No Tail appears as in the former; but they have one lieth hidden under the Belly, which they can at Pleasure bend back to pierce Pease when they are young and tender, and other Things also, as I have Reason to suspect, having met with this (as indeed the former two) in divers Vegetables.

_Pears_ and _Apples_ I could never discover any Thing to breed in, but only the lesser _Phalæna_, about ⁴⁄₁₀ Inch long, whitish underneath; greyish brown above (dappled with brown Spots, inclining to a dirty Red) all but about a third Part at the End of the Wings, which is not grey, but brown, elegantly striped with wavey Lines, of a Gold Colour, as if gilt; its Head is small, with a Tuft of whitish brown in the Forehead; _Antennæ_ smooth, moderately long. The _Aurelia_ of this Moth is small, of a yellowish brown. I know not what Time they require for their Generation out of Boxes; but those I laid up in _August_, did not become Moths before _June_ following.

[e] There are many of the _Phalænæ_ and _Ichneumon-Fly_ Tribes, that have their Generation on the Leaves or other Parts of Trees and Shrubs, too many to be here reckoned up. The _Oak_ hath many very beautiful _Phalænæ_, bred in its convolved Leaves, white, green, yellow, brown spotted prettily, and neatly dappled, and many more besides; and its Buds afford a Place for Cases, and Balls of various Sorts, as shall be shewn hereafter; its Leaves expanded, minister to the Germination of globular, and other sphæroidal Balls, and flat _Thecæ_, some like Hats, some like Buttons excavated in the Middle, and divers others such like Repositories, all belonging to the _Ichneumon-Fly_ Kind. And not only the _Oak_, but the _Maple_ also, the _White-Thorn_, the _Briar_, _Privet_, and indeed almost every Tree and Shrub.

[f] And as Trees and Shrubs, so Plants have their peculiar Insects. The _White-Butterfly_ lays its voracious Offspring on Cabbage-Leaves; a very beautiful reddish ocellated one, its no less voracious black Off-spring of an horrid Aspect, on the Leaves of Nettles; as also doth a very beautiful, small, greenish _Ichneumon-Fly_, in Cases on the Leaves of the same Plant: And to name no more (because it would be endless) the beautiful _Ragwort-Moth_, whose upper Wings are brown, elegantly spotted with red and underwings edged with brown; these, I say, provide for their golden ring’d _Eruce_ upon the _Ragwort-Plant_.

[g] Many, if not most Sort of Birds, are infested with a distinct Kind of Lice, very different from one another in Shape, Size, _&c._ For Figures and Descriptions of them, I shall refer to _Signieur Redi of Insects_. See also _Moufet_, L. 2. _c. 23._ These Lice lay their Nits among the Feathers of the respective Birds, where they are hatched and nourished; and as _Aristotle_ saith, would destroy the Birds, particularly _Pheasants_, if they did not dust their Feathers. _Loco infr. citat._

[h] And as Birds, so the several Sorts of Beasts have their peculiar Sorts of Lice; all distinct from the two Sorts infesting Man: Only the _Ass_, they say, is free, because our _Saviour_ rode upon one, as some think; but I presume it is rather from the Passage in _Pliny_, L. 11. c. 33. or rather _Arist. Hist. Animal_. L. 3. c. 31. who saith, _Quibus pilus est, non carent eodem ~[Pediculo]~ excepto Asino, qui non Pediculo tantùm, verùm etiam Redivio immunis est._ And a little before, speaking of those in Men, he shews what Constitutions are most subject to them, and instanceth in _Alcman_ the Poet, and _Pherecydes Syrius_ that died of the _Pthiriasis_, or Lowly Disease. For which foul Distemper, if Medicines are desired, _Moufet de Insect._ p. 261. may be consulted. Who in the same Page hath this Observation, _Animadverterunt nostrates——ubi Asores insulas à tergo reliquerint, Pediculos confestim omnes tabascere: atque ubi eas reviserint, iterum innumeros alios subitò oriri._ Which Observation is confirmed by Dr. _Stubs._ Vid. _Lowth. Abridg._ V. 3. p. 558. And many Seamen have told me the same.

[i] Fishes, one would think, should be free from Lice, by Reason they live in the Waters, and are perpetually moving in, and brushing through them; but yet have their Sorts too.

Besides which, I have frequently found great Numbers of long slender Worms in the Stomachs, and other Parts of Fish, particularly _Codfish_, especially such as are poor; which Worms have work’d themselves deeply into the Coats and Flesh, so that they could nor easily be gotten out: So _Aristotle_, saith of some Fishes, _Ballero & Tilloni Lumbricus, innascitur, qui debilitat, ~&c.~ Chalcis vitio infestatur diro, ut Pediculi sub Branchiis innati quàm multi interimant._ Hist. An. L. 8. c. 20.

[k] Of Insects bred in the Nose of Animals, those in the Nostrils of _Sheep_ are remarkable. I have my self taken out not fewer at a Time than twenty or thirty rough Maggots, lying among the _Laminæ_ of the Nostrils. But I could never hatch any of them, and so know not what Animal they proceed from: But I have no great doubt, they are of the _Ichneumon-Fly_ Kind; and not improbably of that with a long Tail, call’d _Triseta_, whose three Bristles seem very commodious for conveying its Eggs into deep Places.

I have also seen a rough whitish Maggot, above two Inches within the _Intestinum rectum_ of Horses, firmly adhering thereto, that the hard Dung did not rub off. I never could bring them to Perfection, but suspect the _Side-Fly_ proceeds from it.

[l] In the Backs of _Cows_, in the Summer-Months, there are Maggots generated, which in _Essex_ we call _Wornils_; which are first only a small Knot in the Skin; and I suppose no other than an Egg laid there by some Insect. By Degrees these Knots grow bigger, and contain in them a Maggot lying in a purulent Matter: They grow to be as large as the End of one’s Finger, and may be squeez’d out at a Hole they have always open: They are round and rough, and of a dirty White. With my utmost Endeavour and Vigilance, I could never discover the Animal they turn into; but as they are somewhat like, so may be the same as those in the Note before.

In _Persia_ there are very long slender Worms, bred in the Legs, and other Parts of Men’s Bodies, 6 or 7 Yards long. In _Philos. Trans._ Mr. _Dent_, and Mr. _Lewis_, relate divers Examples of _Worms_ taken out of the Tongue, Gums, Nose, and other Parts, by a Woman at _Leicester_, which they were Eye-witnesses of. These, and divers others mention’d in the _Transactions_, may be seen together in Mr. _Lowthorp_’s _Abridg._ Vol. 3. p. 132.

_Narrat mihi vir fide dignus——Casp. Wendlandt——se in Poloniâ, puero cuidam rustico duorum annorum, Vermiculum album è palbebrâ extraxisse,——magnitudinis Erucæ.——Similem fere huic casum mihi ~[Schulzio]~ & D. Segero narravit hoc. Anno 1676. chirurgus noster Ant. Statlender, qui cuidam puero, ex Aure, extraxit Vermiculum talem, qualis in nucibus avellanis perforatis latitare solet, sed paulò majorem, coloris albissimi; alteri minores 5 ejusdem generis similiter ex Aure: Omnes aliquot horas supervixerunt——Vermiculos adhuc viventes oculis nostris vidimus._ Ephem. Germ. T. 2. Obs. 24. ubi Vermiculi Icon. Many other Instances may be met with in the same Tome. Obs. 147, 148, 154.

The Worms in _Deer_ are mention’d often among ancient Writers. _Aristotle_ saith, Σκώληκας μεν τοι πάντες ἔχουσιν, ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ ζῶντας, &c. _They ~[Deer]~ all have Live Worms in their Heads; bred under the Tongue, in a Cavity near the ~Vertebra~, on which the Head is plac’d; their Size not less than of the largest Maggots; they are bred all together, in number about twenty._ Aristot. Hist. Animal. l. 2. c. 15.

To these Examples may be added the Generation of the _Ichneumon-Fly_ in the Bodies of Caterpillars, and other _Nymphæ_ of Insects. In many of which, that I have laid up to be hatch’d in Boxes, instead of _Papilios_, &c. as I expected, I have found a great Number of small _Ichneumon-Flies_, whose Parent-Animal had wounded those _Nymphæ_, and darted its Eggs into them, and so made them the Foster-Mother of its Young. More Particulars of this Way of Generation may be seen in the great Mr. _Willughby_’s Observations in _Philos. Trans._ Nᵒ. 76. But concerning the farther Generation of this Insect, I have taken Notice of other Particulars in other places of these Notes.

[m] The Animals ordinarily bred in the Stomach and Guts, are the three Sorts of Worms call’d _Lati_, _Teretes_, and _Ascarides_; concerning which, it would be irksome to speak in Particular, and therefore I shall refer to _Moufet_, L. 2. c. 31, 32, 33. Dr. _Tyson_’s Anatomy of them in Mr. _Lowthorp_’s _Abridg._ V. 3. p. 121. _Seignior Redi_’s _Obs_. and others that have written of them.

And not only _Worms_, but other Creatures also are said to be found in the Stomach; Instances of which are so innumerable, that I shall only select a few related by Persons of the best Credit. And first of all, by some of our own Countrymen. Dr. _Lister_, (whose Credit and Judgment will hastily be question’d,) gives an Account of true _Caterpillars_, vomited up by a Boy of nine Years old; and another odd Animal by a poor Man. Mr. _Jessop_, (another very judicious, curious and ingenious Gentleman,) saw _Hexapods_ vomited up by a Girl; which _Hexapods_ liv’d and fed for five Weeks. See _Lowth._ ib. p. 135.

And to Foreigners, it is a very strange Story (but attested by Persons of great Repute,) of _Catharina Geileria_, that dy’d in _Feb_. 1662, in the Hospital of _Altenburg_, in _Germany_, who for twenty Years voided by Vomit and Stool, _Toads_ and _Lizzards_, &c. _Ephemer. Germ._ T. 1. Obs. 103. See also the 109. Observation of a Kitten bred in the Stomach, and vomited up; of Whelps also, and other Animals, bred in like Manner. But I fear a Stretch of Fancy might help in some of those last Instances, in those Days when spontaneous Generation was held, when the Philosophers seem to have more slightly examined such Appearances than now they do. But for the breeding of _Frogs_ or _Toads_, or _Lacertæ Aquaticæ_ in the Stomach, when their Spawn happeneth to be drank, there is a Story in the second _Tome_ of the _Ephem. Germ._ Obs. 56. that favours it, _viz._ _In the Year 1667, a ~Butcher’s~ Man going to buy some Lambs in the Spring, being thirsty, drank greedily of some standing Water, which a while after, caus’d great Pains in his Stomach, which grew worse and worse, and ended in dangerous Symptoms. At last he thought somewhat was alive in his Stomach, and after that, vomited up three live Toads; and so recover’d his former Health._

Such another Story Dr. _Sorbait_ tells, and avoucheth it seen with his own Eyes, of one that had a Toad came out of an Abscess, which came upon drinking foul Water. _Obs._ 103.

[n] Not only in the Guts, and in the Flesh; but in many other Parts of the Body, Worms have been discover’d. One was voided by Urine, by Mr. _Mat. Milford_, suppos’d to have come from the Kidneys. _Lowth._ ib. p. 135. More such Examples _Moufet_ tells of. _Ibid._ So the _Vermes Cucurbitini_ are very common in the Vessels in Sheeps Livers: And Dr. _Lister_ tells of them, found in the Kidney of a Dog, and thinks that the Snakes and Toads, _&c._ said to be found in Animals Bodies, may be nothing else. _Lowth._ ib. p. 120. Nay, more than all this: In Dr. _Bern. Verzascha_’s sixth Observation, there are divers Instances of Worms bred in the _Brain_ of Man. One, a patient of his, troubled with a violent Headach, and an itching about the Nostrils, and frequent Sneezing; who, with the Use of a Sneezing-Powder, voided a Worm, with a great deal of Snot from his Nose. A like Instance he gives from _Bartholine_, of a Worm voided from the Nose of _O. W._ which he guesseth was the famous _Olaus Wormius_: Another, from a Country Woman of _Dietmarsh_; and others in _Tulpius_, _F. Hildanus_, _Schenchius_, &c. These Worms he thinks are undoubtedly bred in the Brain: But what way they can come from thence, I can’t tell. Wherefore I rather think, they are such Worms as are mentioned in _Note (k)_, and even that Worm that was actually found in the Brain of the _Paris Girl_ (when opened) I guess might be laid in the _Laminæ_ of the Nostrils, by some of the _Ichneumon_, or other Insect Kind, and might gnaw its way into the Brain, through the _Os cribiforme_. Of this he tells us from _Bartholine_, _Tandem cùm tabida obiisset, statim aperto cranio præsentes Medici totam cerebelli substantiam, quæ ad dexterum vergit, à reliquo corpore sejunctam, nigrâque tunicâ involutam deprehenderunt: hæc tunica ruptæ, latentem Vermem vivum, & pilosum, duobus punctis splendidis loco oculorum prodidit, ejusdem fere molis cum reliquâ Cerebri portione, qui duarum horaram spacio supervixit._ B. Verzas. Obs. Medicæ, p. 16.

_Hildanus_ tells us such another Story, _viz._ _Filius Theod. aust der Roulen, Avunculi mei, diuturno vexabatur dolore capitis.——Deinde febriculâ & sternutatione exortâ, ruptus est Abscessus circa os cribrosum——& Vermis prorepsit._ By his Figure of it, the Maggot was an Inch long, and full of Bristles. _Fabri Hildan. Cent._ 1. Obs.

_Galenus Wierus_ (Physician to the _Princ. Jul. & Cleve_) he saith, told him, that he had, at divers Times, found Worms in the _Gall-bladder_ in Persons he had opened at _Dusseldorp_. Id. ib. Obs. 60.

[o] See before _Book IV. Chap. 13. Note (c)._

[p] Some Insects lay up their Eggs in Clusters, as in Holes of Flesh, and such Places, where it is necessary they should be crowded together; which, no question, prevents their being too much dried up in dry Places, and promotes their hatching. But,

[q] As for such as are not to be clustered up, great Order is used. I have seen upon the Posts and Sides of Windows, little round Eggs, resembling small Pearl, which produced small hairy Caterpillars, that were very neatly and orderly laid. And to name no more, the _White Butterfly_ lays its neat Eggs on the Cabbage Leaves in good Order, always gluing one certain End of the Egg to the Leaf. I call them neat Eggs, because if we view them in a Microscope, we shall find them very curiously furrowed, and handsomely made and adorned.

[r] By Reason it would be endless to specify the various Generation of Insects in the Water, I shall therefore (because it is little observed) raise _Pliny_’s Instance of the _Gnat_, a mean and contemned Animal, but a notable Instance of Nature’s Work, as he saith.

The first Thing considerable in the Generation of this Insect is (for the Size of the Animal) its vast _Spawn_, being some of them above an Inch long, and half a quarter Diameter; made to float in the Waters, and tied to some Stick, Stone, or other fix’d Thing in the Waters, by a small Stem, or Stalk. In this gelatine, transparent Spawn, the Eggs are neatly laid; in some Spawns in a single, in some in a double spiral Line, running round from end to end, as in Fig. 9, and 10; and in some transversly, as Fig. 8.

When the Eggs are by the Heat of the Sun, and Warmth of the Season hatched into small Maggots, these Maggots descend to the bottom, and by means of some of the gelatine Matter of the Spawn (which they take along with them) they stick to Stones, and other Bodies at the bottom, and there make themselves little Cases or Cells, which they creep into, and out of at Pleasure, until they are arrived to a more mature _Nympha-State_, and can swim about here and there, to seek for what Food they have occasion; at which Time, they are a kind of Red-worms, above half an Inch long, as in Fig. 11.

Thus far this mean Insect is a good Instance of the divine Providence towards it. But if we farther consider, and compare the three States it undergoes after it is hatched, we shall find yet greater Signals of the Creator’s Management, even in these meanest of Creatures. The three States I mean, are its _Nympha-Vermicular_ State, its _Aurelia_, and _Mature_-State, all as different as to Shape and Accoutrements, as if the Insect was three different Animals. In its _Vermicular_-State, it is a Red-Maggot, as I said, and hath a Mouth and other Parts accommodated to Food: In its _Aurelia_-State it hath no such Parts, because it then subsists without Food; but in its _Mature_, _Gnat_-State, it hath a curious well-made Spear, to wound and suck the Blood of other Animals. In its _Vermicular_-State, it hath a long Worm-like Body, and something analogous to Fins or Feathers, standing erect near its Tail, and running parallel with the Body, by means of which resisting the Waters, it is enabled to swim about by Curvations, or flapping its Body, side-ways, this way and that, as in Fig. 12.

But in its _Aurelia_-State, it hath a quite different Body, with a _Club-Head_ (in which the Head, _Thorax_, and Wings of the _Gnat_ are inclosed) a slender _Alvus_, and a neat _finny Tail_, standing at right Angles with the Body, quite contrary to what it was before; by which means, instead of easy flapping side-ways, it swims by rapid, brisk Jirks, the quite contrary way; as is in some measure represented in Fig. 13. But when it becomes a _Gnat_, no finny Tail, no Club-Head, but all is made in the most accurate manner for Flight and Motion in the Air, as before it was for the Waters.

[s] See _Book IV. Chap. 13. Notes (n), (o)._

[t] Thus the Mouths and other Parts of the _Ichneumon-Wasps_ in _Book IV. Chap. 13. Note (t)._ So the Feet of the _Gryllotalpa_, _ibid._ _Note (s)._

[u] See the last cited Places, _Note (o)._

[w] Of the textrine Art of the _Spider_, and its Parts serving to that Purpose, see the last cited Place, _Note (x)._

Besides these, _Caterpillars_, and divers other Insects, can emit Threads, or Webs for their Use. In this their _Nympha-State_, they secure themselves from falling, and let themselves down from the Boughs of Trees, and other high Places, with one of these Threads. And in the Cases they weave, they secure themselves in their _Aurelia-State_.

And not only the Off-spring of the _Phalæna-Tribe_, but there are some of the _Ichneumon-Fly_ Kind also, endowed with this textrine Art. Of these I have met with two Sorts; one that spun a Milk-white, long, round, silken Web, as big as the top of ones Fingers, not hollow within, as many are, but filled throughout with Silk. These are woven round Bents, Stalks of Ribwort, &c. in Meadows. The other is a lump of many yellow, silken Cases, sticking confusedly together on Posts, under Cole-worts, _&c._ These Webs contain in them, small, whitish Maggots; which turn to a small, black, _Ichneumon-Fly_, with long, capillary _Antennæ_; Tan-coloured Legs; long Wings reaching beyond their Body, with a black Spot near the middle; the _Alvus_, like an Heart; and in some, a small setaceous Tail. Some of these Flies were of a shining, beautiful green Colour. I could not perceive any Difference, at least, not specifical, between the Flies coming from those two Productions.

[x] I have often admired how _Wasps_, _Hornets_, _Ichneumon-Wasps_, and other Insects that gather dry Materials for building their Nests, have found a proper matter to cement and glue their Combs, and line their Cells; which we find always sufficiently context and firm. But in all Probability, this useful Material is in their own Bodies; as ’tis in the _Tinea vestivora_, the _Cadew Worm_, and divers others. _Goedart_ observes of his _Eruca_, _Num._ xx. 6. that fed upon _Sallow-Leaves_, that it made its Cell of the comminuted Leaves, glued together with its own Spittle, _hæc pulveris aut arenæ instar comminuit, ac pituitoso quodam sui corporis succo ita maceravit, ut inde accommodatum subeundæ mutationi instanti locum sibi extruxerit. Domuncula hæc à communi Salicum ligno nihil differre videbatur, nisi quòd longè esset durior, adeò ut cultro vix disrumpi posset._

[y] _An ingenious Gentlewoman of my Acquaintance, Wife to a learned Physician, taking much Pleasure to keep Silk-Worms, had once the Curiosity to draw out one of the oval Cases, which the Silk-Worm spins——into all the Silken Wire it was made up of, which, to the great Wonder as well of her Husband, as her self,——appeared to be, by measure, a great deal above 300 Yards, and yet weighed but two Grains and an half._ Boyl Subtil. of Effluv. ch. 2.

[z] Since my penning this, I have met with the most sagacious _Malpighi_’s Account of _Galls_, &c. and find his Descriptions to be exceedingly accurate and true, having traced my self many of the Productions he hath mentioned. But I find _Italy_ and _Sicily_ (his Book _de Gallis_ being published long after he was made Professor of _Messina_) more luxuriant in such Productions than _England_, at least, than the Parts about _Upminster_ (where I live) are. For many, if not most of those about us, are taken Notice of by him, and several others besides that I never met with; although I have for many Years as critically observed all the Excrescences, and other morbid Tumors of Vegetables, as is almost possible, and do believe that few of them have escaped me.

As to the Method how those _Galls_ and _Balls_ are produced, the most simple, and consequently the most easy to be accounted for, is that in the Gems of Oak, which may be called _Squamous-Oak-Cones_, _Capitula squamata_, in _Malpighi_: Whose Description not exactly answering our _English-Cones_ in divers Respects, I shall therefore pass his by, and shew only what I have observed my self concerning them.

These _Cones_ are, in outward Appearance, perfectly like the Gems, only vastly bigger; and indeed they are no other than the Gems, encreased in Bigness, which naturally ought to be pushed out in Length: The Cause of which Obstruction of the Vegetation is this: Into the very Heart of the young tender Gem or Bud (which begins to be turgid in _June_, and to shoot towards the latter end of that Month, or beginning of the next; into this, I say) the Parent-Insect thrusts one or more Eggs, and not perhaps without some venomous Ichor therewith. This Egg soon becomes a Maggot, which eats it self a little Cell in the very Heart or Pith of the Gem, which is the Rudiment of the Branch, together with its Leaves and Fruit, as shall be hereafter shewn. The Branch being thus wholly destroyed, or at least its Vegetation being obstructed, the Sap that was to nourish it, is diverted to the remaining Parts of the Bud, which are only the scaly Teguments; which by these Means grow large and flourishing, and become a Covering to the Insect-Case, as before they were to the tender Branch and its Appendage.

The _Case_ lying within this Cone, is at first but small, as the Maggot included in it is, but by degrees, as the Maggot increaseth, so it grows bigger, to about the Size of a large white Pease, long and round, resembling the Shape of a small Acorn.

The _Insect_ it self, is (according to the modern Insectologers) of the _Ichneumon-Fly_ Kind; with four Membranaceous _Wings_, reaching a little beyond the Body, articulated _Horns_, a large _Thorax_, bigger than the Belly; the _Belly_ short and conical; much like the Heart of Animals: The _Legs_ partly whitish, partly black. The _Length_ of the Body from Head to Tail, about ²⁄₁₀ of an Inch; its _Colour_, a very beautiful shining Green, in some tending to a dark Copper-Colour. Figures both of the Cones, Cases, and Insects, may be seen among _Malpighi_’s Cuts of Galls, Tab. 13. and Tab. 20. Fig. 72. which Fig. 72. exhibits well enough some others of the _Gall-Insects_, but its _Thorax_ is somewhat too short for ours.

[aa] Not only the Willow, and some other Trees, but Plants also, as _Nettles_, _Ground-Ivy_, &c. have Cases produced on their Leaves, by the Injection of the Eggs of an _Ichneumon-Fly_. I have observed those Cases always to grow in, or adjoining to some Rib of the Leaf, and their Production I conceive to be thus, _viz._ The Parent-Insect, with its stiff setaceous Tail, terebrates the Rib of the Leaf, when tender, and makes Way for its Egg into the very Pith or Heart thereof, and probably lays in therewith, some proper Juice of its Body, to pervert the regular Vegetation of it. From this Wound arises a small Excrescence, which (when the Egg is hatched into a Maggot) grows bigger and bigger, as the Maggot increases, swelling on each Side the Leaf between the two Membranes, and extending it self into the parenchymous Part thereof, until it is grown as big as two Grains of Wheat. In this Case lies a small, white, rough Maggot, which turns to an _Aurelia_, and afterwards to a very beautiful green, small _Ichneumon-Fly_.

[bb] What I suspected my self, I find confirmed by _Malpighi_, who in his exact and true Description of the Fly bred in the _Oaken Galls_, saith, _Non sat fuit naturæ tam miro artificio Terebram seu Limam condidisse; sed inflicto vulnere, vel excitato foramine infundendum exinde liquorem intra Terebram condidit: quare fractâ per transversam muscarum terebrâ frequentissimè, vivente animali, guttæ aliquot diaphani humoris effluunt._ And a little after, he confirms, by ocular Observation, what he imagin’d before, viz. _Semel prope Junii finem vidi Muscam, qualem superiùs delineavi, insidentum quercinæ gemmæ, adhuc germinanti; hærebat etenim foliola stabili ab apice hiantis gemmæ erumpenti; & convulso in arcum corpore, terebram evaginabat, ipsamque sensam immittebat; & tumefacto ventre circa terebræ radicem tumorem excitabat, quem interpolatis vicibus remittebat. In folio igitur, avulsà Muscâ, minima & diaphana reperii ejecta ova, simillima iis, quæ adhuc in tubis supererant. Non licuit iterum idem admirari spectaculum, ~&c.~_

Somewhat like this, which _Malpighi_ saw, I had the good Fortune to see my self once some Years ago: And that was, the beautiful, shining _Oak-Ball Ichneumon_ strike its _Terebræ_ into an Oak-Apple divers Times, no doubt to lay its Eggs therein. And hence I apprehend we see many _Vermicules_ towards the Outside of many of the Oak-Apples, which I guess were not what the Primitive Insects laid up in the Gem, from which the Oak-Apple had its Rise, but some other supervenient, additional Insects, laid in after the Apple was grown, and whilst it was tender and soft.

[cc] The _Aleppo-Galls_, wherewith we make Ink, may be reckoned of this Number, being hard, and no other than Cases of Insects which are bred in them; who when come to Maturity, gnaw their Way out of them; which is the Cause of those little Holes observable in them. Of the Insects bred in them, see _Philos. Transact._ Nᵒ. 245. Of this Number also are those little smooth Cases, as big as large Pepper-Corns, growing close to the Ribs under Oaken-Leaves, globous, but flattish; at first touched with a blushing red, afterwards growing brown; hollow within, and an hard thin Shell without. In this lieth commonly a rough, white Maggot, which becomes a little long winged, black _Ichneumon-Fly_, that eats a little Hole in the Side of the Gall, and so gets out.

[dd] For a Sample of the tender Balls, I shall choose the globous Ball, as round, and some as big as small Musket-Bullets, growing close to the Ribs, under Oaken-Leaves, of a greenish yellowish Colour, with a blush of red; their Skin smooth, with frequent Risings therein. Inwardly they are very soft and spongy; and in the very Center is a Case with a white Maggot therein, which becomes an _Ichneumon-Fly_, not much unlike the last. As to this Gall, there is one Thing I have observed somewhat peculiar, and I may say providential, and that is, that the Fly lies all the Winter in these Balls in its Infantile-State, and comes not to its Maturity till the following Spring. In the Autumn, and Winter, these Balls fall down with their Leaves to the Ground, and the Insect inclosed in them is there fenced against the Winter Frosts, partly by other Leaves falling pretty thick upon them, and especially by the thick, parenchymous, spongy Walls, afforded by the _Galls_ themselves.

Another Sample shall be the large _Oak-Balls_, called _Oak-Apples_, growing in the Place of the Buds, whose Generation, Vegetation and Figure, may be seen in _Malpig. de Gallis_, p. 24. and Tab. 10. Fig. 33, _&c._ Out of these Galls, he saith various Species of Flies come, but he names only two, and they are the only two I ever saw come out of them: _Frequenter_ (saith he) _subnigræ sunt muscæ brevi munitæ terebrâ. Inter has aliquæ observantur aureæ, levi viridis tincturâ suffusæ, oblongâ pollentes terebrâ._ These two differently coloured Flies, I take to be no other than Male and Female of the same Species. I have not observed Tails (which are their _Terebræ_) in all, as _Malpighi_ seems to intimate: Perhaps they were hid in their _Thecæ_, and I could not discover them: But I rather think there were none, and that those were the Males: But in others, I have observed long, recurvous Tails, longer than their whole Bodies. And these I take to be the Females. And in the _Oak-Apples_ themselves, I have seen the _Aureliæ_, some with, some without Tails. And I must confess, ’twas not without Admiration as well as Pleasure, that I have seen with what exact Neatness and Artifice, the Tail hath been wrapt about the _Aurelia_, whereby it is secured from either annoying the Insect, or being hurt it self.

[ee] See before _Note (z)._

[ff] As in the preceding Note.

[gg] Of the rough or hairy Excrescences, those on the _Briar_, or _Dog-Rose_, are a good Instance. These _Spongiolæ villosæ_, as Mr. _Ray_, _Gallæ rumosæ_, as Dr. _Malpighi_ calls them, are thus accounted for by the latter; _Ex copiosis relictis ovis ita turbatur affluens ~[Rubi]~ succus, ut strumosa fiant complura tubercula simul confusè congesta, quæ utriculorum seriebus, & fibrarum implicatione contexta, ramosas propagines germinant, ita ut minima quasi sylva appareat. Qualibet propago ramos, hinc inde villosos edit. Hinc inde pili pariter crumpunt, ~&c.~_

These Balls are a safe Repository to the Insect all the Winter in its Vermicular-State. For the Eggs laid up, and hatched the Summer before, do not come to mature Insects until the Spring following, as Mr. _Ray_ rightly observes in _Cat. Cantab._

As to the _Insects_ themselves, they are manifestly _Ichneumon-Flies_, having four Wings, their _Alvus_ thick and large towards the Tail; and tapering up till it is small and slender at its setting on to the _Thorax_. But the _Alvi_ or Bellies are not alike in all, though coloured alike. In some they are as is now described, and longer, without _Terebræ_, or Tails; in some shorter with Tails: And in some yet shorter, and thick, like the Belly of the _Ant_, or the Heart of Animals, as in those before, _Note (z)._ But for a farther Description of them, I shall refer to Mr. _Ray_, _Cat. Plant. circa Cantab._ under _Rosa Sylvest._

[hh] It being an Instance somewhat out of the Way, I shall pitch upon it for an Example here, _viz._ The _gouty Swellings_ in the Body, and the Branches of the _Blackberry-Bush_; of which _Malpighi_ hath given us two good Cuts in Tab. 17. Fig. 62. The Cause of these is manifestly from the Eggs of Insects laid in (whilst the Shoot is young and tender) as far as the Pith, and in some Places not so deep; Which for the Reasons before-mentioned, makes the young Shoots tumify, and grow knotty and gouty.

The Insect that comes from hence is of the former Tribe, a small, shining black _Ichneumon-Fly_, about a tenth of an Inch long; with jointed, red, capillary Horns, four long Wings, reaching beyond the Body, a large _Thorax_, red Legs, and a short, heart-like Belly. They hop like Fleas. The Males are less than the Females; are very venereous, endeavouring a _Coït_ in the very Box in which they are hatch’d; getting up on the Females, and tickling and thumping them with their Breeches and Horns, to excite them to Venery.

_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?

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