“Many creatures go through a natural change and by decay pass into different forms, as bees [are formed] by the decaying flesh of calves, as beetles from horses, locusts from mules, scorpions from crabs.”

—  Isidore of Seville , book Etymologiae

Bk. 11, ch. 4, sect. 3; p. 221.
Etymologiae

Original

Siquidem et per naturam pleraque mutationem recipiunt, et corrupta in diversas species transformantur; sicut de vitulorum carnibus putridis apes, sicut de equis scarabei, de mulis locustae, de cancris scorpiones.

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Isidore of Seville photo
Isidore of Seville 3
bishop, confessor and doctor of the Catholic Church 560–636

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