46 MEMOIR OF 



quote this chiefly because it seems to show that 

 circumstances had arisen which might lead to an 

 order of publication somewhat different from that 

 which had been originally intended. 



If Haller and Baron Cuvier be correct, the next 

 volume which appeared was not the third and last 

 on Birds, published in 1603, but that on Insects, 

 which appeared the previous year, viz. 1602. This 

 would show, that probably different volumes were 

 in preparation at the same time; although, from 

 not being able to see the first edition, we have 

 not confirmed the statement. From this volume 

 we extract the following sentiments : " Of all the 

 departments of Natural Philosophy, the knowledge 

 of which is difficult, the study laborious, and the 

 nature abstruse, that which I have found the most 

 difficult relates to insects. Their extreme minute- 

 ness would lead us more appropriately to designate 

 them otropoe, than eurof**, atoms rather than insects. 

 And for this reason no one, so far as I know, has 

 published any thing concerning them that is worthy 

 of notice. Aristotle is the only one among the 

 Greeks who has left any thing of value, and though 

 Pliny has collected a few things from others, yet 

 they are so garbled that they are likely only to con- 

 fuse. I trust, on the other hand, that this book of 

 mine will afford both pleasure and profit : pleasure, 

 that in such minute animals we can observe such 

 wondrous tints, such perfect forms, manifesting ex- 

 traordinary power, and other qualities worthy of all 

 admiration. With regard to the colouring, such 



