mals, we are filled with wonder at the elegant disposition of their parts, to what a height is our astonishment raised, when we discover all these parts arranged in the least, in the same regular manner!' And, to sum up the matter in the words of another naturalist: Of this dispute it is only necessary to observe, that the wisdom of the Creator is so conspicuous in all his works, and such surprising art is discovered in the mechanism of the body of every creature, that it is very difficult if not impossible, to say where it is most and where it is least to be observed. We have already pointed out the Mosaic distinction between clean and unclean insects, to which the reader is referred. SECTION I. WINGLESS INSECTS. THE SCORPION. THE Scorpion is the largest and most malignant of all the insect tribes. From the above engraving, it will be seen that it somewhat resembles the lobster in its general appearance, but is much more hideous. Those found in Europe seldom exceed four inches in length, but in the tropical climates it is not an unusual thing to meet with them twelve inches long. There are few animals more formidable, and none more irascible, than the scorpion; but, happily for mankind, it is equally destructive to its own species as to other animals. Goldsmith states, that Maupertius put about a hundred of them together in the same glass, and they scarcely came into contact, when they began to exert all their rage in mutual destruction; so that, in a few days, there remained but fourteen, which had killed and devoured all the rest. But their malignity is still more apparent in their cruelty to their offspring. He enclosed a female scorpion, big with young, in a glass vessel, and she was seen to devour them as fast as they were excluded. There was only one of the number that escaped the general destruction, by taking refuge on the back of its parent; and this soon after revenged the cause of its brethren, by killing the old one in its turn. Such is the terrible nature of this insect; and it is even asserted, that when placed in circumstances of danger, from which it perceives no way of escape, it will sting itself to death. Surely, says Mr. Taylor, Moses very properly mentions scorpions among the dangers of the wilderness, Deut. viii. 15. And what shall we think of the hazardous situation of Ezekiel, who is said to dwell among scorpions (ch. ii. 6)—people as irascible as this terri ble insect? Nor could our Lord select a fitter contrast: 'If a son shall ask of his father an egg, will he give him a scorpion?' Luke xi. 11, 12. But the passage most descriptive of the scorpion, is Rev. ix. 310, in which it is to be observed, that the sting of this creature was not to produce death, but pain so intense that the wretched sufferers should seek death-desire to die-(ver. 6) rather than submit to its endurance. Dr. Shaw states, that the sting of scorpions is not always fatal; the malignity of their venom being in proportion to their size and complexion. The torment of a scorpion when he strikes a man, is thus described by Dioscorides: When the scorpion has stung, the place becomes inflamed and hardened; it reddens by tension, and is painful by intervals, being now chilly, now burning. The pain soon rises high, and rages, sometimes more, sometimes less. A sweating succeeds, attended by a shivering and trembling; the extremities of the body become cold; the groin swells; the bowels expel their wind; the hair stands on end; the members become pale, and the skin feels throughout it the sensation of a perpetual pricking, as if by needles.' Our Saviour gave his disciples power to tread upon these terrible creatures, and to disarm them of their means of hurting, Luke X. 19. It may be necessary to remark, on the contrast which our Lord draws between a scorpion and an egg, that the body of this insect is much like an egg: and Bochart has shown that the scorpions of Judea were about the size of an egg. The Jews used whips on some occasions, which were called, from the suffering they occasioned, scorpions. To these it is probable the haughty Rehoboam alluded, when he menaced the house of Israel with increasing their oppressions, 1 Kings xii. 11. THE SPIDER. THOMPSON describes with great accuracy, the loathsome character of this well-known insect. Formed for a life of rapacity, and incapable of living upon any other than insect food, all its habits are calculated to deceive and surprise. It spreads toils to entangle its prey; it is endued with patience to expect its coming; and is possessed of arms and strength to destroy it, when fallen into the snare. In this country, where all the insect tribes are kept under by human industry, the spiders are but small and harmless; but in other parts of the globe they are formidable and dangerous. Burckhardt describes one which he saw killed near Mount Sinai, as being about four inches and a half in length, of which the body was three inches. It had five long legs on both sides, covered, like the body, with a setæ of a light yellow color. The head was long and pointed, with large black eyes, and the mouth armed with two pairs of fangs, one above the other, recurved and extremely sharp. The Bedouins entertain the greatest dread of them; they say that their bite, if not always mortal, produces a great swelling, almost instant vomiting, and the most excruciating pains. The spider is only twice mentioned in scripture; and in both instances the inspired writers allude to the conduct and lot of wicked men. The first passage in which it occurs, is Job viii. 14, 15, where the punishment of the hypocrite is denounced: "Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure :--a proverbial allusion, says Mr. Good, and so exquisite, that it is impossible to conceive any figure that can more strongly describe the utter vanity of the hopes and prosperity of the wicked. This writer believes that the passage has never been understood; and therefore, though rendered in a thousand different manners, has never been translated satisfactorily. We subjoin his translation, and part of his note: Can the paper-reed grow up without ooze? Yet, in the midst of its own greenness, Uncut, and before every other herb, doth it wither! Such are the ways of all that forget God! So perisheth the confidence of the hypocrite! Thus shall his support rot away, And the building of the spider be his reliance: And upon its building shall he lean, but it shall not stand ; Ver. 11-15. 'The speaker is still continuing his comparisons, and the entire beauty of the passage depends upon our accompanying him in his extension of it. 'As the moisture of these succulent plants evaporates before that of all others, so perisheth the confidence of the hypocrite; and as the ooze and stagnant water, from which they derive their support, instead of continuing its salubrious nourishment, grow putrid, and yield an intolerable stench, so shall the support of the hypocrite putrify likewise: it shall dissolve into emptiness, and nauseate him as it flies away.' The other passage is Isaiah lix. 5, 6: They hatch cockatrice eggs, and weave the spider's web-their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of in.quity, and the act of violence is in their hands.The deceitful veil which he throws over the deformity of his character, can remain only for a short time; like the spider's web it shall soon be swept away, and his loathsome form exposed to every eye. He shall perish in the ruins of that habitation which he constructed with so much care, and where he reposed in fatal security. Our translators have found the spider in Prov. xxx. 28; but the opinion of Bochart, that the newt, a species of small lizard, is meant, is more likely correct. THE FLEA. Tuis contemptible and blood-thirsty little animal was well known in every part of the world, and was chosen by the persecuted son of Jesse, as an object of comparison for the purpose of reproving the folly of the incensed king of Israel, 1 Sam. xxiv. 14; ch. xxvi. 20. The idea seems to be, that while it would cost Saul inuch to catch the object of his pursuit, his success would afford him but little advantage. THE LOUSE. ONE of the plagues brought upon the land of Egypt, by Pharaoh's obstinate and iniquitous oppression of the children of Israel, was produced by a swarm of cenim, rendered 'lice' by Josephus, the Rabbins, and most modern commentators, in whose defence Bochart and Bryant have adduced many arguments, supported by considerable learning and ability. On the other hand, the LXX, who dwelt in Egypt, and who, it must be supposed, knew better than we can pretend to, what was intended by the Hebrew name, render it gnats; and their interpretation is confirmed Philo, himself also an Alexandrian Jew, and by Origen, a christian father, who likewise lived at Alexandria. The latter describes them as winged insects, but so small as to escape any but the acutest sight, and he adds, that when settled on the body, they wound it with a most sharp or painful piercer. Dr. Geddes, who maintains this opinion, remarks that Bochart and Bryant ought not to have so confidently appealed to the Syriac and Chaldee versions, as being in their favor; for the word they use, is without sufficient authority translated pediculus, in the Polyglott and by Buxtorf. From Bar Bahlul, the prince of Syriac lexicographers, we learn that the corresponding Syriac word denotes an animalcule hurtful to the eyebrows, animalcula palpebirs |