RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 77 



We have, indeed, commenced the publication of a 

 similar collection*, now so much wanted for our 

 public libraries and institutions ; but it is highly 

 probable that so few copies will be printed, that the 

 entire work will only be in the possession of the 

 original subscribers ; and thus the main object of 

 the undertaking will be but very partially accom- 

 plished. Bonnet f , the celebrated philosopher of 

 Geneva, influenced, probably, by the example of 

 Reaumer, published two volumes upon insects. But 

 both these authors were surpassed by the illustrious 

 Baron de Geer|, who, in the year 1752, gave to 

 the world his first volume of Memoires, which he 

 subsequently extended to six others. Every ento- 

 mologist who has had occasion to mention this in- 

 valuable work, concurs in bestowing upon it their 

 unqualified praise ; not only for the admirable and 

 interesting details it contains on the structure and 

 habits of the insects described, and the beauty of 

 the investigations it narrates, but for the just and 

 comprehensive views it unfolds on natural arrange- 

 ment. It is a subject of much regret that this work 

 is of such exceeding rarity as to be quite unpro- 

 curable. We have never been successful in meeting 

 with a copy for sale ; and although it was soon 



* W. Swainson. Ornithological Drawings, in Geographic 

 Series. Series I. The Birds of Brazil. Parts 1, 2, and 3. 

 London, 1834. Royal 8vo., published quarterly, 12 plates in 

 each. 



f C. Bonnet. Traite d'Insectologie. Paris, 1745. 2 vols. 

 8vo. 



} De Geer. Memoires pour servir a PHistoire des In- 

 sectes. Stockholm, 1752—1778. 7 vols. 4to. 



