XX INTRODUCTION. 



accuracy with which he has investigated some 

 of its most intricate parts. To him the genus 

 Apis is under greater obligations perhaps 

 than to any entomologist either of ancient or 

 modern times. See his immortal work, 

 " Memoires pour servir a PHistoire des In- 

 sectes," in 6 vols. 4 to. 1732 1744. 



About this period also flourished the great, 

 the illustrious LINNAEUS, whose labours dif- 

 fused light over every department of natural 

 science, and have justly caused him to be re- 

 garded as one of its brightest ornaments. He 

 has generally been considered as the founder 

 of the artificial system of arrangement; but a 

 very near approach to it was made by that 

 brilliant constellation of naturalists whom I 

 have enumerated as having flourished at the 

 close of the 17th century, and who may pro- 

 bably be regarded as having paved the way, 

 and prepared materials, for the formation of 

 his more perfect system, 



Afterwards appeared the works of the ce- 

 lebrated BONNET of Geneva, the admiring 

 correspondent of Reaumur, and the patron 

 and friend of Huber. This great physiolo- 

 gist became addicted to the study of entomo- 



