Essays on the Microscope

Note 103 — CHAP. VI. A GENERAL VIEW OF THE INTERNAL PARTS OF INSECTS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY OF THE CATERPILLAR OF THE PHALÆNA COSSUS—-A DESCRIPTION OF SUNDRY MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS.

Reading edition

Hill’s Natural History of Animals.

[104] The absurd idea, that the brent goose or barnacle derived its origin from this shell, was not confined to the illiterate; men of science, incautiously confiding in the bold assertions of the ignorant, appear to have given full credit to this truly curious hypothesis, and disseminated the knowledge of it in their writings. Even Gerard, the author of the Herbal, caught the infection: so confident was he of the fact, that he invited the credulous to apply to him for full satisfaction; his words are, “For the truth hereof, if any do doubt, may it please them to repaire unto me, and I shall satisfie them by the testimonie of good witnesses.” See his Herbal, page 1587.

Barbut says, “This fabulous account originated from the sea-fowls, when ready to lay their eggs, depositing them on the marine plants; and, pecking sometimes these anatiferous shells, oblige the fish to come out, which having devoured, they lay eggs in their place. The young when hatched break through their prison, and fly away.” Genera Vermium, Pars ii. page 13. Edit.

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