DR. DARWIN. 375 



Conferva Poiymorpha, found on the 

 Englifh fliores, from the changeful appear- 

 ance of the fubftance, is termed a Proteus 

 Lover, and is reprefented after that fable. 

 Beneath this fancy we fee him a Dolphin, 

 a fpotted Pard, a Swan ; and traits of the 

 manners of each of thofe animals give po- 

 etic value to the transformations. 



Adonis, many males many females in 

 the fame flower. Here is the final meta- 

 morphofis of this great work ,,qf Imagina- 

 tion. The multifarious florets in each in- 

 dividual flower of that fpecies, are made to 

 affume the human figure, and to become a 

 band of libertine lovers, who plight their 

 promifcuoushymencals. To them is com- 

 pared that licentious inftitution, the Areoi 

 of Otaheite, as recorded in Cook's Voyages. 



And now the Mufe of Botany difmiffes 

 her minifters, and clofcs her inchantmcnts, 

 thus : 



Here 



