Equator. They take their Flight in Troops that fometimes refemble Clouds; they frequently cover Ships, and the Sailors take them without Difficulty.

As for the Swallows, it was ufually thought that they croffed the Seas at the different Seasons of the Year; but it is much more probable, that, in these -Northern Countries they conceal themselves in the Caverns of the Earth, riveted to one another with their Claws and Bills. They flock to Places unfrequented by Men, or even bury themselves in the Water; the Precaution they take to lubricate their Feathers with their own Oil, and to roll themfelves up like a Ball, preferves them in the Water, and even under the Ice. They are there benumbed, and pafs the whole Winter without Motion. The Heart, however, has a constant Palpitation, and the Warmth revives them at the Return of the Spring; they then revifit their former Habitations, and each Individual finds out his own Country, and even his particular City, Village, and Nest.

As to Wild Ducks and Cranes, both the one and the other, at the Approach of Winter, fly in quest of more favourable Climates: They all affemble at a certain Day, like Swallows and Quails, they decamp at the fame time, and it is very agreeable to observe their Flight; they generally range themselves in a long Column like an I, or in two Lines united like an V reverfed. The Duck, or Crane, who forms the Point, cuts the Air, and facilitates a Paffage to those that fòllow; but he is charged with this Commiffion only for a certain Time, at the Conclufion of which, he wheels about into the Rear, and another takes his Poft. It is very common, but yet a very furprising,

Obferva

Observation, to see how regularly the Swallows meet upon a certain Day, in order to depart all together, and every Circumftance of their Journey has fomething in it almoft miraculous in their Progress over Seas and Kingdoms; one knows not which to admire moft, the Force that fuftains them in fo long a Paffage, or the Order in which the whole is accomplished. Who acquainted their Young, that it would foon be neceffary for them to forfake the Land of their Nativity, and travel into a strange Country? Why do those who are detained in a Cage exprefs fo much Difquietude at the Season for the ufual Departure, and feem to be afflicted at their Inability to join the Company? What particular Bird charges himself with the Care of affembling a Council, to fix the Day of their Removal? Who founds the Trumpet to inform the Tribe of the Refolution taken, that each Party may be prepared? Whence have they their Almanack, to inftruct them in the Seafon and the Day when they are to be in Motion? Are they provided with Magistrates and Officers to preferve the Discipline which is fo extraordinary among them? For not one of them diflodges till the Proclamation has been published, and not a Deserter is seen on the Day that fucceeds their Departure. Have they Charts to regulate their Voyage by? Are they acquainted with the Islands where they may reft, and be accommodated with Refreshments? Are they furnished with a Compass to guide them infallibly to the Coast they would steer to, without being difconcerted in their Flight by Rains orWinds, or the dismal Obscurity of many Nights? Or are they endued with a Reafon fuperior to that of Man, who has not Courage to attempt fuch a Paffage, without

2

a Multitude of Machines, Precautions, and Provifions? Where would be the Danger or Absurdity of ascribing all this to Reason? A Reason limited and circumfcribed within the narrow Bounds of their own Sphere. A Reason fufficient to direct them to the Means of preserving and increasing their feveral Families, and answering the several Ends of their Being, and the Purposes of their Creation. A Reafon not fuperior to that of Man, because the Reafon of Man is vaft or comprehensive, taking in the whole Compafs of Nature, looking forwards and backwards into Eternity; whereas the Sphere of Action allotted to Brutes is contracted into a very narrow Compafs, and confined to a few Articles of Life and Action; in which too, perhaps, the exquifite Structure of their Organs, and the Temuity and Purity of their Juices and animal Spirits, not corrupted, or impaired by Luxury and Intemperance, may poffibly give them a confiderable Advantage over the greater Part of the human Species. But more of this in its proper Place.

Let us next descend to the various Tribes of Infects, which, though vile and contemptible in their Appearance, yet each of them, in their feveral Ranks and Stations, proclaim aloud the infinite Wisdom and Power of their Creator. Their Variety, their Difpofitions, their Sagacity, their Policy, their Industry, the wonderful Proportion of their Organs, the Delicacy of their Structure, and a thousand other Curiofities obfervable in every Species, are Matter of infinite Delight and Pleasure to a curious and inquifitive Genius; but were we able to examine them in a nearer View, could we be capable of knowing the direct Purposes of infinite Wisdom in their Creation, the Rela

tion they bear, and the harmonious Proportion they ftand in, to the univerfal System, it would afford us infinite Matter of Astonishment and Surprize, as wellas of religious Reverence and Adoration to their Omnipotent Creator. Small and contemptible as they appear to us, they are really formed with the most exquifite Symmetry, the moft delicate Proportion. Vulgar Prejudice may confider them as the Effect of Chance, and the Refufe of Nature; but an attentive Eye, affifted by the Help of Microfcopes, difcovers in them aftonishing Marks of infinite Wisdom, which, far from neglecting them, has been particularly careful to clothe, arm, and accommodate them with all the Instruments and Faculties neceffary to their Condition. This it is that has arrayed them 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 Ornaments of their Heads. We need only behold the Ichneumon, Spanish Dragon, and Butterfly, nay, a Caterpillar itself, to astonish us with this Magnificence. The fame infinite Wisdom, which has been fo liberal in their Ornaments, has completely armed them for making War, and affaulting their Enemies, as well as defending themselves. The Generality of them are provided with strong Treeth, a double Saw, a Sting with two Darts, or vigorous Claws, and a fcaly Coat of Mail, for the Defence of their whole Body. The Safety of the greatest Part of them confifts in the Agility of their Flight, by which they easily avoid the

Spectacle de la Nature. Dial. 1. p. 7, 8.

Danger

Danger that threatens them: Some by the Affiftance of their Wings, others by a Thread that supports them, when, from the Leaves on which they live, they throw themselves at a Distance from their Enemy; and others, by the Spring of their Hind-feet, whofe Elafticity immediately launches them out of the Reach of Danger; and, when they are destitute of Force, Stratagem, and Cunning, fupply the Want of the common and ordinary Means of their Prefervation.

This is very wonderful; but our Wonder increases, when we attentively confider the different Organs and Implements with which each of them work in their feveral Profeffions: Some fpin, and have a Couple of Diftaffs and Fingers to form their Thread; others make Nets and Lawn, and, for that Purpose, are provided with Shuttles and Clues of Thread. There are fome who build in Wood, and are therefore fupplied with two Bills for cutting their Timber. Others. makeWax,and have their Shops furnished with Rakers, Ladles, and Trowels. Most of them have a Trunk, more wonderful for its various Ufes than the Elephant's, and which, to fome, ferves for an Alembic for the Diftillation of a Syrup Man can never imitate; to others it performs the Office of a Tongue; many employ it a Drill for piercing, and the Generality of them use it as a Reed for Suction. Several, whofe Heads are fortified with a Trunk, a Saw, or a Couple of Pincers, carry in the other Extremity of their Bodies an Augur, which they lengthen and turn at Difcretion; and, by that means, dig commodious Habitations for their Families in the Heart of Fruits, under the Bark of Trees, in the Subftance of Leaves or

Gems,