THE KNIGHT OF THE POLAR STAR 311 



were then considered the artistic portion of the 

 book. 1 



The Latin preface, ' one of the most entertaining and 

 eloquent recommendations of the study of nature that 

 .ever came from the pen of an enthusiastic naturalist,' 

 was translated into English by Sir J. E. Smith in the 

 book called ' Reflections on the Study of Nature,' and 

 first printed in 1786, appearing again in a volume of 

 tracts relating to natural history in 1798. Sir J. Smith 

 says the book 'Museum Regis Adolphi Friderici,' 'one 

 of the most superb and expensive of all Linnasus's works, 

 is scarcely known in this country.' The name of its 

 author, as Mr. Stillingfleet formerly remarked, is in 

 everybody's mouth; but probably many people have 

 heard of him without precisely knowing how much 

 the science of natural history and many useful __ arts 

 are indebted to him. This is as true now as when 

 Sir J. Smith wrote it. 



4 " Museum Adolphi Friderici," which Linnaaus had 

 written at the palace of his great sovereign, was sent to 

 press 1755.' 2 The systematising of the fishes in the col- 

 lection caused him considerable labour. ' As to Pisces, 

 indeed, our excellent Artedi had written on them with 

 great ingenuity, but his method was difficult and in- 

 sufficient. Linnaeus discovered an entirely new and 

 very easy mode of distinguishing them, namely, by the 



1 It is curious, philologically, to read the Latin and Gothic 

 pages side by side. Gryllus is Grashoppa in Swedish ; the Sepia is 

 the Blacltia ; Spinnel is our Spider. 8 Diary. 



