20 MEMOIR OF HUBER. 



It cannot reasonably excite our wonder, therefore, 

 that on the first appearance of Huber's observations, 

 the literary, or rather the scientific world, was some- 

 what startled, not only at the novelty of his discoveries, 

 but also at the instrumentality by which they had 

 been effected. Huber, however, had taken great 

 pains in cultivating the naturally acute mind of the 

 young man, in directing his researches, and accus- 

 toming him to rigorous accuracy in his observations. 

 And the fact that a glimmering of many of the dis- 

 coveries reported by the assistant to his master had 

 presented themselves to the minds of Linnaeus, Reau- 

 mur, and other preceding observers, should so far 

 satisfy us that they were not brought forward merely 

 to support a preconceived theory, (of which, it is 

 probable, Burnens had no idea,) nor owed their origin 

 to a vivid and exuberant imagination. At a future 

 period Hubef was deprived of the aid of this valuable 

 coadjutor ; but the loss was more than compensated, 

 and accuracy in experiment and observation, if pos- 

 sible, still more unquestionably secured, by the assis- 

 tance and co-operation of his son, P. Huber, who 

 has given so much delight to the lovers of natural 

 history by his (< Researches concerning the habits of 

 Ants." 



But, whatever hesitation may arise in our minds 

 from the fact of Huber's discoveries not being the 

 result of his personal observation, no doubt can rea- 

 sonably remain as to such of them as have been 

 repeatedly confirmed and verified by subsequent ob- 

 servers. And this has actually taken place, and holds 



