: _And coral insects_, l. 90. The coral habitation
of the Madrepora of Linneus consists of one or more star-like
cells; a congeries of which form rocks beneath the sea; the
animal which constructs it is termed Medusa; and as it
adheres to its calcareous cavity, and thence cannot travel to
its neighbours, is probably without sex. I observed great
masses of the limestone in Shropshire, which is brought to
Newport, to consist of the cells of these animals.]

[Footnote: _And heaven-born Storge_, l. 92. See Additional
Note IX.]

"On angel-wings the GODDESS FORM descends,
Round her fond broods her silver arms she bends;
White streams of milk her tumid bosom swell,
And on her lips ambrosial kisses dwell.
Light joys on twinkling feet before her dance
With playful nod, and momentary glance; 100
Behind, attendant on the pansied plain,
Young PSYCHE treads with CUPID in her train.

III. "IN these lone births no tender mothers blend
Their genial powers to nourish or defend;
No nutrient streams from Beauty's orbs improve
These orphan babes of solitary love;
Birth after birth the line unchanging runs,
And fathers live transmitted in their sons;
Each passing year beholds the unvarying kinds,
The same their manners, and the same their minds. 110
Till, as erelong successive buds decay,
And insect-shoals successive pass away,
Increasing wants the pregnant parents vex
With the fond wish to form a softer sex;
Whose milky rills with pure ambrosial food
Might charm and cherish their expected brood.
The potent wish in the productive hour
Calls to its aid Imagination's power,
O'er embryon throngs with mystic charm presides,
And sex from sex the nascent world divides, 120
With soft affections warms the callow trains,
And gives to laughing Love his nymphs and swains;
Whose mingling virtues interweave at length
The mother's beauty with the father's strength.

[Footnote: _A softer sex_, l. 114. The first buds of trees
raised from seed die annually, and are succeeded by new buds
by solitary reproduction; which are larger or more perfect
for several successive years, and then they produce sexual
flowers, which are succeeded by seminal reproduction. The
same occurs in bulbous rooted p