120 EXPLANATIONS. 



wise than ex ovo. Other specimens were sent to 

 London, but there their fate was sealed by their 

 being found to be not a new species, but one 

 then abundant in the country. These circum- 

 stances, with a few empty jests, satisfy the critic 

 that there was no independent generation in the 

 case. Against such a conckision, proceeding upon 

 mere supposition, I adduce careful experiment. 

 During the last three years, Mr. Weekes, of Sand- 

 wich, has continued to subject solutions to electric 

 action, and invariably found insects produced in 

 these instances, while they as invariably failed to 

 appear where the electric action was not employed, 

 but every other condition fulfilled. The rigid cart' 

 taken in these experiments to exclude vitiating cir- 

 cumstances, gives them a high claim to notice, 

 and I therefore present, as an appendix, two letters 

 from Mr. Weekes upon the subject. They cannot 

 fail to be read with interest, and the more so, ms 

 they exhibit a man pursuing the investigation of 

 an important natural fact under the most discou- 

 raging circmnstances. If this new presentment 

 of the Acarus Crossii shall still excite ridicule, T 

 can only regret the mood of mind fi-om which that 

 ridicule arises; but the opposite party must 

 excuse my attaching no importance to anything 



