end might be accomplished by other figures, yet they
would require a greater quantity of wax.
A comb con-
sists of two rows of cells applied to each other's ends.
This arrangement both saves room in the hive, and gives
a double entry into the cells: the bases of the cells in one
row of a comb, serving for bases to the opposite row. It
is difficult to perceive, even with the assistance of glass-
hives, the manner in which bees operate. They are so
eager to afford mutual assistance; and, for this purpose,
so many of them crowd together, that their individual
operations can seldom be observed. It has, however,
been discovered, that their two teeth are the instruments
they employ in modelling and polishing the wax. The
combs are generally arranged in a direction parallel to
each other. An interval, or street, between the combs,
is always left, that the bees may have a free passage, and
an easy communication with the different combs in the
hive. These streets are sufficiently wide, to allow two
bees to pass one another. Beside these parallel streets,
to shorten their journey when working, they leave seve-
ral round cross-passages, which are always covered. The
honey-bees not only labour in common with astonishing
assiduity and art, but their whole attention and affections
seem to centre in the person of the Queen or sovereign
of the hive. When she dies by any accident, the whole
community are instantly in disorder-all their labours
cease; no new cells are constructed; and neither honey
nor wax are collected.

To their delicious task the fervent bees
In swarming millions tend; around, athwart
Through the soft air the busy nations fly,
Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube
Suck its pure essence, its ethereal soul;
And oft, with bolder wing, they soaring dare
The purple heath, or where the wild thyme grows,
And yellow load them with the luscious spoil.

THOMSON.

2. The labours of WASPS, though not beneficial to mankind, are not less ingenious nor less worthy of admi

ration. Wasps associate in great numbers, and construct a common habitation with much dexterity and skill. The cells of the wasps are formed of a kind of paper, which, with great dexterity, is fabricated by the animals themselves. The hole which leads to a wasp's nest is about an inch in diameter, and is a kind of gallery mined by the wasps; the whole nest is of a roundish form, and sometimes above twelve inches in diameter. This subterraneous city, though small, is extremely populous; in a middle-sized nest, there were at least 10,000 cells. The different stories of combs are always about half an inch high; these intervals are so spacious, in proportion to the bulk of the animals, that they may be compared to great halls, or broad streets. Each of the larger combs is supported by about fifty pillars, which, at the same time, give solidity to the fabric, and greatly ornament the whole nest. Boys, and even men, are guilty of great and undeserved cruelty to these ingenious insects, who never sting, unless they are irritated and attacked.

3. The association of ANTS merits no less admira. tion than those of bees and wasps. The form of their nest, or hill, is somewhat conical; and, of course, the water, when it rains, runs easily off, without penetrating their abode. Under this hill, there are many galleries or passages, which communicate with each other, and resemble the streets of a city. They go to great distances in search of provisions; and their roads, which are often winding and involved, all terminate in the nest.

491. The study of Shells is called Conchology. There are more than a thousand species of shells, and they are separated into three divisions:multivalves, bivalves, and univalves, accordingly as the shells consist of many parts, of two, or of a single part.

Multivalves consist of many plates or shells, connected in some species, like the different parts of a coat of mail.

Bivalves consist of two shells, connected by a hinge; as the muscle, oyster, &c.

And the Univalves comprehend those that have a regular spiral, which is a numerous division, including the snail, periwinkle, &c., and those also without a regular spiral.

Obs. Pearls are found in oysters and muscles. They are calcareous concretions, formed of the liquid of which the inner surface of the shell is composed, and are an effect of accidental injury to the shell. The Chinese increase the number of pearls, by catching muscles, and perforating the shells; and then replace the muscles in the water. After a certain time, on opening them again, they discover pearls attached to the part injured. The substance of the shells of these animals, when chemically examined, is found to be a mild calcareous earth, deposited in a mass of net-work, composed of animal matter. The shining matter, left in the tracks of snails, is this very substance; which, when deposited in strata above one another, hardens and forms a shell.

2. Many hundreds of unknown species of mineral shells are found in the strata of the earth, the remains of seas and shores now no more.

492. The polype is an insect, of a snail, or jelly-like substance. It shrinks into a round green spot, if disturbed; but, in its natural form, is a long tube, and has a head and mouth, from which eight or ten long arms are projected, to seize worms and other insects.

The young issue from its side in a surprising manner; but, it is the wonderful property of this insect, that if cut into any number of pieces, and in any direction, each part will become a perfect polype in itself!

It may even be turned inside out without injury; and the dismembered parts of one polype will

unite with those of another, and make one perfect polype!

493. After man has exerted his eyes to view the smallest insects, he will find, on applying a microscope, others so small, that ten thousand of them are not equal in bulk to the smallest which he can view with lis naked eye.

LEWENHOECK tells us of insects seen with a microscope, of which 27 millions would only be equal to a mite, and four millions to a single grain of sand.

494. Yet, each of these animalculæ has an organized body, provided with a heart, lungs, muscles, glands, arteries, and veins; and with blood and other fluids passing through them!

Their vigour and powers of action are generally superior even to those of larger animals; their length of life is also great in proportion to their size.

The mite makes 500 steps in a second; animalcules, in a drop of water, swim about with as much freedom as a whale in the sea; and those that feed on the leaves of trees resemble oxen grazing in large pastures.

Wak'd by his warmer ray, the reptile young
Come wing'd abroad; by the light air upborne,
Lighter, and full of soul. From every chink,
And secret corner, where they slept away
The wintry storms; or rising from their tombs,
To higher life; by myriads, forth at once,
Swarming, they pour; of all the vary'd hues,
Their beauty-beaming parent can disclose.
Ten thousand forms, ten thousand different tribes!
People the blaze. To sunny waters, some,
By fatal instinct, fly; where on the pool,

They, sportive, wheel; or, sailing down the stream,
Are snatch'd immediate by the quick-eyed trout,
Or darting salmon. Through the greenwood glade
Some love to stray; there lodg'd, amus'd, and fed,
In the fresh leaf. Luxurious, others make
The meads their choice, and visit every flower,
And every latent herb; for the sweet task,
To propagate their kinds, and where to wrap,
In what soft beds, their young, yet undisclos'd,
Employs their tender care. Some, to the house,
The fold, and dairy, hungry, bend their flight;
Sip round the pail, or taste the curdling cheese:
Oft, inadvertent, from the milky stream
They meet their fate; or, weltering in the bowl,
With powerless wings, around them wrapt, expire:
THOMSON.

495. Animalcules are shaped like fish, reptiles, eels, stars, hexagons, triangles, ovals, and circles; they have horns, probosces, &c.; and although the eyes of many species are not discernible, yet they move about with inconceivable relative velocity in the fluids they inhabit, without interfering with each other.

496. HUNTER divided all animated nature into single and complicated animals. The single, are those which possess only feeling or the powers of muscular contraction, and the power of absorbing food, as chalk absorbs moisture, and appropriating it to nourishment.

The hydatid, found in sheep, consists only of a bag filled with water, and has no appearance of animal powers; but, when excited or pricked contracts and shews its irratibility; while this vital power is supported by the nourishment which it receives through its coat.

497. For such simple animals, we ascend,