HISTORY OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



was celebrated for the assiduity with which he studied 

 insects; and in the former of these works has concen- 

 trated a vast number of interesting observations con- 

 nected with their anatomy and history. No Englishman 

 contributed more to the progress of Natural History, 

 both as a writer and collector, than that disinterested 

 physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, whose exten- 

 sive and valuable library and well-stored cabinets formed 

 the original nucleus of the present vast collection of the 

 British Museum. Amongst other departments, that of 

 insects was not overlooked by him ; and it is to be re- 

 gretted that those which he had accumulated have either 

 perished from neglect or are not accessible. Other 

 Entomologists were eminent at this period in Britain. 

 The principal of these were Petiver, Dale (to whom Ray 

 bequeathed his collection of insects), Bobart, Bradley, 

 and Dandridge; the last of whom, as Bradley tells us, 

 delineated and described 1 40 species of spiders. 



I must not omit here to observe that our ROYAL SO- 

 CIETY, the origin of which took place in this era, com- 

 municated a new and powerful impulse to the public mind 

 in favour of Physical Science, and greatly accelerated 

 the progress of Natural History. It acted not only as 

 a centre of excitement which stimulated to exertion, but 

 also as a focus to collect the scattered rays of light before 

 they were dissipated. Insulated observations in every 

 department of nature were thus preserved; and commu- 

 nications from the most eminent naturalists in various 

 parts of Europe ornamented its- Transactions. So that 

 from the establishment of this illustrious Society, the 

 triumphant march of Physical Science of every kind to- 

 wards its acme mav be dated. 



