126 NOTES TO THE 



lumbricus tervestris, with the young voUed up in 

 thera. 



Among tlie lower orders the increase is rather 

 by continuation than generation, and that by a di- 

 vision of the body, in some longitudinally into two ; 

 in others transversely, in which a portion of the 

 body separates and becomes a perfect worm, and 

 after a while another portion which becomes per- 

 fect like its predecessor. 



In the polype tribe, both the common fresh wa- 

 ter ones and those which form the numerous spe- 

 cies of coral, the increase is by germs or buds ; in 

 the former protruded from the external surface, 

 which are developed while they adhere ; in the 

 latter they are thrown out from the intcriour, and 

 are developed after they are excluded : but they 

 are not eggs. On this subject you will be gratifi- 

 ed with the perusal of Ellis on Corals and Coral- 

 lines. 



I doubt very much whether the authors, from 

 whom Tirgil learned the art of making bees, knew 

 that the bee differed from the flesh-fly in having 

 four wings, or rationally to account for the appear- 

 ance of the latter. 



Blind philosophers ! exclaims Palignae, to main- 

 tain that the corruption of matter could produce 

 insects. You were ignorant^ of tlie invariable or- 

 der established in the generation of all beings. 

 Could you believe Nature thus capricious and in- 

 consistent, thus capable of straying from her own 



