ENTOMOLOGY. 217 



forms of living beings, and that particularly 

 with respect to the functions of generation — 

 a minute study of the modifications of which 

 the forms of animals seem susceptible, parti- 

 cularly in the hymenopterous, or bee tribe, 

 might lead to very important results. 



Poiet. — Even in a moral point of view, 

 I think the analogies derived from the trans- 

 formation of insects admit of some beautiful 

 applications, which have not been neglected 

 by pious entomologists. The three states — 

 of the caterpillar, larva, and butterfly — have, 

 since the time of the Greek poets, been ap- 

 plied to typify the human being — its terres- 

 trial form, apparent death, and ultimate 

 celestial destination; and it seems more ex- 

 traordinary that a sordid and crawling worm 

 should become a beautiful and active fly — 

 that an inhabitant of the dark and foetid 

 dunghill should in an instant entirely change 

 its form, rise into the blue air, and enjoy 

 the sunbeams, — than that a being, whose 

 pursuits here have been after an undying 

 name, and whose purest happiness has been 

 derived from the acquisition of intellectual 



