OLD DELUSIONS. 29 



" Say, canst thou tell how worms of moisture breed, 

 Or pike are gendered of the pickrel weed ? 

 How carp without the parent seed renew, 

 Or slimy eels are form'd of genial dew ? " 



To indulge in day-dreams about the abnormal in- 

 stincts and habits of animalia, would appear to be 

 characteristic of the speculative naturalist of past 

 ages, vague theories being treated as solid facts, and 

 so set forth for the acceptance of credulous readers. 



