not only in their form, but alfo in their apparatus ; moil o f them
require diffe&ion, as the flings (for they have generally two) are
inclofed in a hard fheath, or cafe, to which is added a pair of
feelers. The flings o f bees, wafps, &c. are barbed, while that
o f the chryfis is ferrated, or notched like a law..
The head o f infefts is furnifhed with an inflrument, or pro*-
bofcis, various as the infects themfelves, but all deferving the-
titmoft attention, being admirably adapted to their different uies
and purpofes. Among the moil remarkable are the bed bug,,
flea, gnats, empis, conops, &c. to which we may add the Angular
one o f the tabanus, which we have juft now defcribed. W e
have alfo fo fully defcribed the bee’s apparatus, page 362, that it
is unneceflary to enlarge on it here.
The antennae o f moths, butterflies, and' moil other infefts,
difplay as great beauty in their formation as they are endlefs in
their variety ; the diftinguiihing eharafters o f many o f them have-
been defcribed, page 175 ; and that of the lepas antifera in particular,
page 359.
The eyes of infecls are Angularly conftrufled, but this ftrufture-
is not difcoverable without the afliftance o f the microfcope ; the
eyes o f the Iibellula are hexagonal, vide Plate XVI. Fig. 3
while thofe o f lobfters are fquare, as may be feen. Plate XVI
% 5-
Hair o f animals, as the moufe, goat, large bee, and many fpe-
cies o f caterpillar, particularly the tufts on the head and tail of
the larva of the phalaena antiqua, offer many beauties to the
curious
curious obferver. The briftles o f a hog, cut tranfverfely, appear
tubular, and the root of hair is evidently bulbous.
The mufcular fibres, and every anatomical preparation that can
be brought under the microfcope, are pleafing objects; the reader
will meet with many curious, and interefting obfervations on the
hairs, the muffles, nerves, and other parts of the human body, in
Fontana’s Treatife on the Venom o f Vipers, printed for Murray.
The legs of all infefts appear very much diverfified, and their
mechanifm truly aftonifhing, according with their different occupations,
as particularized page 179.
Scales o f fifh, as foals, roach, dace, falmon, eels, &c. as alfo
the fcales of fnakes, lizards, &c. &c. A fpecimen o f fcales
is given, Plates X. and XIX. The fcales form a light, but at
the fame time a folid and fmooth covering to the fifh, they hinder
the fluid from penetrating the body, for which purpofe they are
laid in a kind o f natural o i l ; they ferve alfo as a protection, and
break the force o f any accidental blow, which may be the reafon
why river fifh have larger and ftronger fcales than fea fifh, being
more liable to accidents.
Feathers, and parts of feathers, are not to be paffed by or unnoticed
; but it is impoffible to point out any o f fhefe in preference
to others, as each has it’s peculiar beauries ; the plumula o f thefe
have generally in the microfcope the appearance o f a large feather
; the pith contained in the quill, if cut tranfverfely, and examined,
exhibits an admirable reticular texture. Many other
.part's of birds will afford a great variety o f curious objefls, par-
4 R 2 ticulariy