MEMOIR OP DRURY. 49 



finished by this time, but, I am sorry to say it, I 

 cannot depend on you. I am perplexed to the last 

 degree. If I advertise the work and not mention 

 the best prints, it will be using some persons ill, as 

 they will with reason think ; and if I mention them 

 without having a sufficient stock, I shall appear in 

 a most ridiculous light. In short, it has fallen out 

 exactly as I foresaw it would, and as I told you 

 some time ago, and I am much afraid your neglect 

 will prove very injurious to me. In fine, write me 

 word when I may expect the prints, that I may 

 give an answer to those who inquire, and you will 

 oblige, 



" Yours, &c. 



" D. DRURY." 



Besides describing the species, Drury endeavours 

 to give their natural history as far as known to 

 him ; but in this respect the work was necessarily 

 very meagre, as in most instances his contributors 

 were contented with transmitting specimens of the 

 perfect insects without furnishing any account of 

 their previous states or general habits. This we find 

 him often lamenting in his letters, but it was an evil 

 which he had no means of remedying. " Let me 

 assure you," he says, writing to a correspondent at 

 Quebec, " that next to receiving the insects them- 

 selves, nothing could be more agreeable to me than 

 to know their history, manner of life, what they 

 feed upon, where they live, what enemies they have, 

 how they secure themselves from the power of those 



