Copy 1, Volume 1

Spectacle de la nature: or, nature display'd. Being discourses on such particulars of natural history as were thought most proper to excite the curiosity, and form the minds of youth ... / Translated by Mr. Humphreys.

  • Noël-Antoine Pluche
Date:
1736
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Spectacle de la nature: or, nature display'd. Being discourses on such particulars of natural history as were thought most proper to excite the curiosity, and form the minds of youth ... / Translated by Mr. Humphreys. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/500 (page 6)
    Latin Word which fignifies to cut, J**t0 and is applied, in genera], to all thefc, little Creatures. Prior. Their Minutenefs feems, at fir ft View, to juftify the Contempt we entertain of them ; but, in reality, it affords us frefh Reafon to admire the Art and Mechanifm of their Structure, which affociates fo many Vefifels, Fluids and Movements, in a Point that is frequently imperceptible. Vul¬ gar Prejudice confiders them as the EffeCt of Chance, or the Refufe of Nature, but an atten¬ tive Eye difcovers in them a Wifdom, which, far from neglecting them, has been particularly care¬ ful to cloath, arm and accommodate them with all the Inftruments neceffary to their Condition. This Wifdom has array’d them. Their Cloath- even to a degree of Complaifance, by laying out fuch a Profufion of Azure, Green and Vermilion. Gold, Silver and Diamonds, Fringe and Plumage, upon their Robes, their Wings and the Ornament of their Heads. We need only behold the Ichneu¬ mon, Spanijh Dragon, and Butterflies, nay a Ca- tarpillar itfelf, to aftonifh us with this Magni¬ ficence. The fame Sagacity, which has Then- Arms geen pQ p|3era] [n their Ornaments, defenfive. has completely armed and put them into a Condition of making War, and afiaulting their Enemies, as well as defending themfelves. If they don’t always feize the Prey they watch for, or efcape what is prejudicial to them, they are at leaft furniihed with the moft proper Abilities for fucceeding in their Defigns. The Generality of them are provided with ftrong Teeth, a double Saw, a Sting with two Darts, or vigorous Claws, andafcaly Coat of Mail covers and defends their whole Body, Thofe whofe Na¬ ture