Книга только для ознакомления
.
We have now done with the internal parts of animals, and must
therefore return to the consideration of the external parts which have
not yet been described. It will be better to change our order of
exposition and begin with the animals we have just been describing, so
that proceeding from these, which require less discussion, our account
may have more time to spend on the perfect kinds of animals, those
namely that have blood.
6
We will begin with Insects. These animals, though they present no
great multiplicity of parts, are not without diversities when compared
with each other. They are all manyfooted; the object of this being
to compensate their natural slowness and frigidity, and give greater
activity to their motions. Accordingly we find that those which, as
the (Millipedes), have long bodies, and are therefore the most
liable to refrigeration, have also the greatest number of feet. Again,
the body in these animals is insected-the reason for this being that
they have not got one vital centre but many-and the number of their
feet corresponds to that of the insections.
Should the feet fall short of this, their deficiency is
compensated by the power of flight. Of such flying insects some live a
wandering life, and are forced to make long expeditions in search of
food. These have a body of light weight, and four feathers, two on
either side, to support it
|
