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. 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.
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