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NoTr XXXIX. VEGETABLE GLANDULATION. 463

ſuſtained by their placental veſſels, like the unexpanded leaf-bud; with the ſeeds exiſting in the vegetable womb yet unimpregnated, and the duſt yet unripe in the cells of the anthers. After this period they expand their pe- tals, which have been ſhewn above to conſtitute the lungs of the flower; the placental veſſels, which before nouriſh- ed the anthers and the ſtigmas, coaleſce or ceaſe to nouriſh them; and they now acquire blood more oxygenated by the air, obtain the paſſion and power of reprodudtion, are ſenſible to heat, and cold, and moiſture, and to mechanic ſtimulus, and become in reality inſe&s fed with honey, ſimilar in every reſpect except their being attached to the tree on which they were produced.

Some experiments I have made this ſummer by cut= ting out the nedaries of ſeveral flowers of the aconites before the petals were open, or had become much colour- ed, ſome of theſe flowers near the ſummit of the plants produced no ſeeds, others lower down produced ſeeds; but they were not ſufficiently guarded from the farina of the flowers in their vicinity; nor have I had Opportunity to try if theſe ſeeds would vegetate.

1 am acquainted with a philofſopher, who contemplat« ing this ſubject thinks it not impoſſible, that the firſt in- lects were the anthers or ſtigmas of flowers; which had by ſome means looſed themſelves from their parent plant, like the male flowers of Valliſneria; and that many other inſe&s have gradually in long proceſs of time been form- ed from theſe; ſome acquiring wings, others fins, and others claws, from their ceaſeleſs efforts to procure their food, or to ſecure themſelves from injury. He contends,

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