infests the Lombardy- Poplar. 153 



persuaded that his authority is incorrect, particularly, as 

 in the Caterpillars I have dissected, the system of blood- 

 vessels is rather transverse, coming in separate bundles 

 from the holes of respiration, and not running, in the 

 general, from the tail to the head. But more of this 

 when I come to the internal structure of the reptile. 

 The style of Smellie is graceful, flowing, and elegant ; 

 but he does not hold the rank of an authority. His 

 work is a compilation. 



It is now pretty well established, from authorities 

 high and respectable in character, indeed in merit com- 

 posing the first rank, that some species of Caterpillar are 

 so venomous, or in some manner injurious (for whether 

 they wound with their head or their tail is of no moment), 

 that, when applied, they excite burning pain, inflamma- 

 tion, and blisters on the hand of an adult man, whose 

 powers of life are high and vigorous. This being con- 

 sented to, it certainly would not be extravagant to believe, 

 on the face of the thing, that they might be fatal to a 

 young and feeble animal, whose irritability is excessive, 

 and whose range of system is very limited. In all our in- 

 ductions, drawn from premises laid in general analogy, we 

 should be extremely cautious and vigilant. But with 

 the above authorities open before us, to conclude from 

 a few negative trials that the Caterpillar, because it ends 

 in a butterfly, cannot injure the smaller animals, is truly 

 to attempt to obscure in the shade of the low brush- wood 

 of our humble capacities, the bright beams of faithful 

 history ; is to raise a mound of the worthless materials of 

 our own arrogance, in the way of the majestic stream 

 of truth, flowing to us from fountains pure and clear. 



