128 AN ASTOt'XDIXG FACT. 



medical studies, he gave every hour he could ap- 

 propriate to his favourite pursuit. " Day and night 

 he employed himself in discovering, catching, and 

 examining the flying insects proper to those two 

 different times, not only in Holland, but in the 

 provinces of Guildres and of Utrecht. He ransacked, 

 with this view, the air, the land, and the water; fields, 

 meadows, pastures, corn fields, downs, wastes, sand- 

 hills; rivers, ponds, wells, lakes, seas, and their shores 

 and hanks ; trees, plants, ruins, caves, uninhabited 

 places, and even bog-houses, in search of eggs, 

 worms, nymphs, and butterflies ; in order to make 

 himself acquainted with the nests of insects, their 

 food, manner of living, disorders, changes or mu- 

 tations, and their several ways or methods of pro- 

 pagation ; and indeed, while yet a very young 

 man, he had made more discoveries in regard to all 

 these particulars, and obtained more certainty, than 

 the known authors of all the preceding ages put 

 together. This, however incredible it may appear 

 to some, is notwithstanding matter of fact. Persons 

 properly qualified to judge of his success have 

 honoured it with the same testimony." It must be 

 remembered that this remarkable statement is made 

 by Boerhaave, than whom it would be difficult to 

 find a more competent judge. 



At the age of fourteen young Swammerdam went 

 to Leyden, to enjoy the advantages of its celebrated 



