Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

[Trident], pseud.  [Henry R Howard] *

Subjects:

Progress, Entomology, Supernaturalism, Animal Development, Microscopy

    Observes that Hamlet's insight that 'there are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy' is 'proved by steam, gas, railways, the electrotype, the electric telegraph, the photograph, and other wonders that have turned up since [William Shakespeare's] day'. Goes on to discuss the display of a monstrous flea at the Entomological Society by John O Westwood. Suggests that the enormity of the flea might be caused by the 'theory of the Transmigration of Souls', but worries about the possible future expansion in the size of the flea and flea-bites. The illustration shows an armed flea riding a grasshopper.