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. Such are bees and the insects akin to
them. When, however, such insects are of very small bulk, their
feathers are reduced to two, as is the case with flies. Insects with
heavy bodies and of stationary habits, though not polypterous in the
same way as bees, yet have sheaths to their feathers to maintain their
efficiency. Such are the Melolonthae and the like. For their
stationary habits expose their feathers to much greater risks than are
run by those of insects that are more constantly in flight, and on
this account they are provided with this protecting shield. The
feather of an insect has neither barbs nor shaft. For, though it is
called a feather, it is no feather at all, but merely a skin-like
membrane that, owing to its dryness, necessarily becomes detached from
the surface of the body, as the fleshy substance grows cold.
These animals then have their bodies insected, not only for the
reasons already assigned, but also to enable them to curl round in
such a manner as may protect them from injury; for such insects as
have long bodies can roll themselves up, which would be impossible
were it not for the insections; and those that cannot do this can
yet draw their segments up into the insected spaces, and so increase
the hardness of their bodies. This can be felt quite plainly by
putting the finger on one of the insects, for instance, known as
Canthari. The touch frightens the insect, and it remains motionless,
while its body becomes hard
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