JONSTON, GOEDART, 

 REDI, AND SWAMMERDAM. 



Zoologists of the Seventeenth Century. 



Brief Account of the Lives and Writings of John Jonston, John 

 Goedart, Francis Redi, and John Swammerdam — Notice respecting 

 the principal Works of Swammerdam— His Birth and Education 

 He studies Medicine, but addicts himself chiefly to the Exami- 

 nation of Insects— Goes to France, where he forms an Acquaint- 

 ance with Thevenot— Returns to Amsterdam, takes his Degree, 

 improves the Art of making Anatomical Preparations— Publishes 

 various Works— Destroys his Health by the Intensity of his Ap- 

 plication — Becomes deeply impressed with religious Ideas — 

 Adopts the Opinions of Antoinette Bourignon— Is tortured by 

 conflicting Passions— Endeavours to dispose of his Collections — 

 Is afi^ected with Ague and Anasarca, and dies after protracted 

 SuflFering— His Writings published by Boerhaave— His Classifi- 

 cation of Insects. 



JOHN JONSTON. 

 Of the three kingdoms of nature, the vegetable was 

 that which, down to the time of Linnaeus, had re- 

 ceived most attention. IMineralogy could scarcely be 

 said to have commenced. Zoology had indeed made 

 considerable progress ; but botany had advanced in a 

 still greater degree, having been cultivated by a host 

 of naturalists, chiefly belonging to the medical pro- 

 fession. One of these, Csesalpinus, who flourished 

 in the end of the 16th century, had already invented 

 a system ; whereas Ray, who belonged to the 17th, 

 was the first zoologist who formed a methodical ar- 



