s and of
other insects be caused by their amatorial passion, and thus
assists them to find each other; or is caused by respiration,
which is so analogous to combustion; or to a tendency to
putridity, as in dead fish and rotten wood, is still to be
investigated; see Botanic Garden, Vol. I. Additional Note
IX.]

"Hence, when the Morus in Italia's lands
To spring's warm beam its timid leaf expands;
The Silk-Worm broods in countless tribes above
Crop the green treasure, uninform'd of love;
Erewhile the changeful worm with circling head
Weaves the nice curtains of his silken bed;
Web within web involves his larva form,
Alike secured from sunshine and from storm; 300
For twelve long days He dreams of blossom'd groves,
Untasted honey, and ideal loves;
Wakes from his trance, alarm'd with young Desire,
Finds his new sex, and feels ecstatic fire;
From flower to flower with honey'd lip he springs,
And seeks his velvet loves on silver wings.

[Footnote: _Untasted honey_, l. 302. The numerous moths and
butterflies seem to pass from a reptile leaf-eating state,
and to acquire wings to flit in air, with a proboscis to gain
honey for their food along with their organs of reproduction,
solely for the purpose of propagating their species by sexual
intercourse, as they die when that is completed. By the use
of their wings they have access to each other on different
branches or on different vegetables, and by living upon honey
probably acquire a higher degree of animation, and thus seem
to resemble the anthers of flowers, which probably are
supported by honey only, and thence acquire greater
sensibility; see Note on Vallisneria, l. 280 of this Canto.

A naturalist, who had studied this subject, thought it not
impossible that the first insects were the anthers and
stigmas of flowers, which had by some means loosened
themselves from their parent plant, like the male flowers of
vallisneria, and that other insects in process of time had
been formed from these, some acquiring wings, others fins,
and others claws, from their ceaseless efforts to procure
food or to secure themselves from injury. He contends, that
none of these changes are more incompr