252 SALMONIA. 



spiration, nutrition, and reproduction, would 

 be sufficient for the labour of a life. To know 

 what has already been done would demand 

 the close and studious application of a com- 

 prehensive mind ; and to complete this branch 

 of science in all its parts is probably almost 

 above human powers : but much might be 

 done if enlightened persons would follow 

 the example of De Geer, Reaumur, and 

 Huber, and study minutely the habits of 

 particular tribes : and it is probable, that 

 physiology might be much advanced by mi- 

 nutely investigating the simplest forms of 

 living beings ; and that particularly with re- 

 spect to the functions of generation a minute 

 study of the modifications of which the forms 

 of animals seem susceptible, particularly in 

 the hymenopterous or bee tribe, might lead 

 to very important results. 



POIET. Even in a moral point of view, I 

 think the analogies derived from the trans- 

 formation of insects admit of some beautiful 

 applications, that have not been neglected by 

 pious entomologists. The three states of 

 the caterpillar, pupa, or aurelia, and butterfly 



