DR. DARWIN. 277 



will rife in the mind of every true lover of 

 the poetic art, contemplating that ex- 

 hauftlefs variety of ideas, imagery and 

 expreffion, which light up the fubjeci with 

 a thoufand torches, kindled at the orb of 

 Genius. 



Skilful blendings of philosophic know- 

 ledge with poetic fancy, now occur in the 

 birth and growth of plants and flowers. 

 They are compared to the kindling and 

 expanfion of animal life in the Crocodile, 

 burfting from it's egg on the fhores of 

 the Nile. It is a grand picture, though 

 of fomewhat forced introduction. The 

 charge on it's progrefs contains inftruction 

 to gardeners, though it is addrefled to the 

 Sylphs, and adorned by the parable of 

 Aaron's rod. The banilhment of noxious 

 infects by their cares, is enforced by the 

 example of the Cyprepedia, a flower curi- 

 oufly refembling the large American Spider. 

 Linneus aflerts, that it catches fmall birds 



T3 - as 



