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GENERATION OF INSECTS 



sea-urchins, which were of the same color as cray-fish 

 and were similar in size and shape to '^ porcellini," though 

 they had no horns, but two very small black eyes and 

 sixty slim legs situated around the edge of their shell; 

 and I hold that Aristotle had them in mind, when he 

 wrote chapter 31st of book 5th of his most useful " His- 





tory of Animals." Several days later I found, in the joints 

 of the sea-locust's shell, another insect, called by fishermen 

 a sea-scorpion. I dare not say whether this was 

 due to accident, or was of usual occurrence; in either 

 case I am inclined to subscribe to the dictum of Aristotle, 

 who asserts that aquatic insects do not breed on the ex- 

 ternal parts of fish, but arise in the slime, which is, in 

 my opinion, the nest in which the eggs of insects are 

 deposited and hatched. 



