Father. Bees are like a well-ordered community. They have a sovereign bee, to whom they are all under subjection. The laws and regulations of this industrious tribe are generally submitted to, and punctually observed. They all labour for the common good, and mutually assist each other. In short, man himself may from them receive much instruction. Their hastening to their hives in great numbers is a sure sign of rain.

Son. Is it not cruel to put to death a whole community? and unjust to seize the fruits of their labour?

Father. There is no injustice in appropriating the fruits of their labour to our use, because, by their making more honey than they want, we perceive that a part was designed for us. And with respect to putting them to death, why may we not as well put these to death as an ox or a sheep? However, there is a method of taking the honey without destroying the bees-and this is certainly the best.

Son. But how can they subsist during the winter, if we deprive them of their honey?

Father. We always leave them what is sufficient, or supply them as they are in want. So that what we take may be considered as a kind of superfluity, which they can well spare.

Son. Are not ants, too, remarkable for their industry, regularity, and order?

Father. They are a little people united like the bees; but may rather be termed a commonwealth, than a monarchy. Their sagacity is very conspicuous in the various methods they use to procure food, and their friendly contrivance to carry it home. The food they store up so carefully is probably for their young, when they first come out of the egg, for in the winter they are supposed to be in a torpid state.

Son. I have heard, I think, something remarkable concerning caterpillars.

Father. Besides their beautiful form, in their first state, after some time they change their coat, and become beautiful butterflies.

Son. But do not they produce our silk?

Futher. Without doubt: they are silk manufacturers. This they make of a gum, which they have in their inside, in a small bag or bladder. In goldsmiths' shops you may probably have seen iron plates with holes, through which they draw the gold wire to its proper size the silk-worm has, under her mouth, something resembling such a kind of perforated instrument, through which she draws the gum. This supplies the materials out of which she spins her thread, and by passing through those holes, it receives its form and length.

Son. How useful are these insects, which we are apt to despise !

Father. More useful in their humble sphere than some of the human species themselves.All useless members of society may learn a lesson even from the tribe of insects.

Son. Are spiders of any use?

Father. Our aversion to spiders arises from their ejecting a poisonous matter, with which they kill their enemies: but I believe the quantity they can eject, though fatal to insects,

and then they become a bridg spider passes and repasses at Others are of opinion, that seen when there is no wind to that after having fixed the thr dropping then to the ground thread themselves; and moun want to fix it, there draw and

Son. I have often wond build their habitations, which with them.

Father. Their carrying th tions with them is somewhat not surprized that your inquis have noticed it.

Every animal in nature has The roof under which the snail

properties, which appear difficu solidity and lightness; without bitant could neither be protecte nor transfer its habitation from At the approach of winter, s some cavity, and from her body