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[], 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.