4 , On a Variety of the Genus Acams. 



alone; so she may choose to diversify her manner of per- 

 petuating these species, by leaving them to the impulses she 

 has planted in them. 



It is this manner of propagation in this species, to which 

 I have been an eye-witness, that emboldens me to think that 

 this creature, though otherwise insignificant, is entitled to 

 some distinction in that part of natural history called oito- 

 molugy; and that from tliis source, it, being so sniall, though 

 perfect, derives all its consequence. 



I think it is pretty obvious that this secret diversity of 

 our grand parent, from whose inexhaustible source we are 

 continually extracdne fresh information, is the cause of 

 different opinions in various writers upon the several branches 

 of natural philosophy; because, if one man should see a 

 creature produced by vegetative impregnation only, which 

 another knows to be produced by sexual commerce, and 

 each should be ignorant of the other means, they will recir 

 procally contradict each other; while a knowledge of both 

 harmonizes the whole, without hypothesis or concession 5 

 and in several species of insects one male impregnation will 

 pass through, or serve for, several generations. The crea- 

 ture before us is one of the multitude of examples which 

 proves that our common parent is no less wond^iful, but 

 much more profuse, in her smaller than in her greater pro- 

 ductions ; which affords a presumpiion, that were our optics 

 commensurate to the task of viewing her exquisite works 

 to perfection, there may exist a part of her diversified 

 chain of animated beings as much more minute than the 

 auimalcula we are familiar witii bv means of our natural 

 organs, as they are inferior in size to the elephant, the sup- 

 posed extinct species of the mammoth, or tbe more doubts 

 ful kraken itself. 



And though their vital spark is pent in narrow bounds, 

 They feci each speculator's philosophic wounds, 

 When calmly they're impal'd alive to feast his eyes, 

 (Regardless of their agonizing tlirots and sighs,) 

 And pain as much, at death, as when a giant dies! 



In the instance now before us we have indubitable proof 

 of identical existence, distinct and separate volition, with 

 a capability of performing ail the voluntarv as well as in- 

 voluntary function? of life, together with the oeconomy of 

 perpetuity by propagation, &c. &c.; which, in my ideas, 

 constitute tlic creature in question, at least in this stace of 

 life, as distinct from the merely impregnated existence as 

 tlie animated from the vegetative creation, and therefore 

 justly entitled to a place in the sentient list of nature's ani- 

 mated 



