——“In the vast and the minute
The unambiguous footsteps of the God,
Who gives its lustre to an insect’s wing,
And wheels his throne upon the rolling worlds.”
“The first state in which insects appear, is that of the ovum or egg; from the egg is hatched the insect in its larva or caterpillar state. The larva, or maggot, crawls on many feet, and is extremely voracious, devouring the herbage, and stripping trees of their leaves. When the time arrives in which the larva or caterpillar is to change into the next state, namely, that of chrysalis, or pupa, it ceases to feed; and having placed itself in some quiet situation for the purpose, lies still for several hours; and then by a kind of laborious effort, frequently repeated, divests itself of its external skin, or larva coat, and immediately appears in the very different form of a chrysalis or pupa. From this state emerges, at length, the insect, in its complete or ultimate form, from which it can never change; nor can it receive any further increase of growth. This last stage is denominated imago.”
“Waked by his warmer ray, the reptile young
Come winged abroad; by the light air upborne,
Lighter, and full of soul. From every chink,
And secret corner, where they slept away
The wintery storms; or rising from their tombs,