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[]. Besides which, they are a curious Piece of Workmanship, and in many, a very beautiful Piece of[c] Garniture to the Body.