The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-08
INSECTS.

Insects are among the smallest of animate OBJ
JcclS. lhey are far the most numerous of any di-
VISION III the animal kingdom Their small size
has led most persons to regard them unworthy of
attenton. To see II man engaged in the cXanlna-
ton of some strange insect is thought by many to
betoken small mind engaged on 4 very ltnimport-
ant subject. But they are not small unworthy
the Divine mind that created them.
Insects belong to the grand division of Articua-
ia, or those animals which have the joints of their
bodies and limbs formed by the external attach
ments of the skin Their skeleton is external.
They are highest in the scale of the division to
which they belong. A bee is higher in the scale
than lobster. Like the higher orders of animals
they have a distinct head, neck, body and limbs.
In many insects there is the power of using the
lore feet as hands, with which to procure their
food This is in all the different species of the ami
mai kingdom regarded a sign of their higher
condition in the scale of animal life.
Many species of insects live in colonies, like the
bee and the ant. Others are solitary like the but
terhy. The wings of insects when once DESTROYED
cannot be restored, but limb may sometimes be
replaced This is especially the with the
lowest among the articuata, as the lobster, which
sometimes loses its claws from sudden fright. One
OF the greatest mistortunes that happen to the
lobster fisherman, is the occurrence of Il sea fight
with cannon near the homes of the Holsters.
The study of insects is not only instructive but
useful 1t was but a few years ago that nobody
could tell why the plums dropped from the trees in
June. Now most persons know that it is from the
puncture OF the curculio, and il We cannot point
out a sovereign remedy against their attacks we
can at least avoid making use of remedies which
can have no Influence over them whatever No in
elligent garenerWouli think ofputting salt around
plum Tree to keep off the attacks of the curculio.
The salt might be beneficial to the health of the
tree, but it would be i'll spite of the curculio. Not
one farmer i'll thousand probably knew what the
borer was twenty years ago. Even at the present
time many persons do not know where to look for
them. \ ct without this knowledge most young
orchards would be destroyed at the present day.
knowledge of the cochinca insects led to the
discovery OF most valuable dye. The Spanish fly
IS used for blisers. A knowledge of the habits of
he onion fly has taught people the folly of scalding
the seed for sake of destroying the fly. knowl-
edge of the habits of the cut has enabled the
gardener to avoid their ravagcS. lie does not now
rise in the morning to see his beautiful cabbage
plants eaten OF because he has Il preventive at his
command against their ravages.
lhus as we become acquainted with the habits of
insects we are better enabled to avoid the injury
which they could intlict upon us. Nobody at the
present day thinks of clothing the beehives in
mourning when one of the family dies for fear the
bees would desert their hives. The bees are Just
As cognizant Of man as they ever We're, and no
more So The habits of insects are fixed by in
Stlnct Ii Is III our power to study their habits and
avoid the evils they may infct upon US.
The ancents affected to despse the study of M
ture, ana attempted to prove theory without
| knowledge of the facts which nature presents.
Hence their absurd notions. The Creator has seen
nj to make millions of the smallest insects, and it
does not become us 10 wink out of sight the habits
and influence Of these millions upon man.
Careful observers arc busy at work collecting al
| that ctn be known Of insects. They make known
every year some nSetnl discovery respecting them
for the benefit Of man. We are the gamers bv their
efforts, If we but pay little attention to such dis
GoyerieS as may be made known to lis from time to
llnlt But three insects have contributed much to
the immediate wants of maii-the Spanish fly, the
Cocbileal insect, and the silkworm. Modern
science will no doubt discover others. Maine
1 Farmer