On the History and Natural Arrangement of Insects (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

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Excerpt from On the History and Natural Arrangement of Insects<br/><br/>There are, however, certain prominent pecu liarities, belonging to annulose animals, which~deserve the attention of every reader. The Annulosa' contain both the most intelligent and the minutest objects in the animal creation for, excepting the I nfusoria, there are none smaller; and among winged insects we find those with the most highly developed instincts. It certainly appears strange, that beings whose form so widely differs from that of man, should neverthe less make a much nearer approach to his intellec tual superiority than any of the vertebrate animals. Not one of the latter, in fact, can be compared, in this respect, with the bee or the ant. Insects, again, are re Inarkable for their tenacity of life. It is a well known fact, that in proportion to the complexity. Of animal, structure, so does its sense of pain increase, and its capability to support injury diminish. Now as insects, from supplying food to so many others, are more de fenceless and exposed than vertebrate animals, so do wà find that they are particularly tenacious of life; we con-5 clude therefore, that their organisation, although perfect in itself, is much less complicated than in animals of a larger size. Being thus exposed to so many casualties, they are gifted with great activity and powers of locomo tion. They command two of the elements, and some times a third, for all inhabit the earth as much as the air, and several are likewise aquatic.

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