MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 293 
employ the greater part of the night, and occa- 
sionally even whole nights together, in devouring 
some new publication, which either awakened his 
curiosity, or which bore upon his more immediate 
researches. With the view of extending his infor- 
mation, he took several journeys to the sea-coasts, 
and more especially into Sussex. 
Being at length summoned by his father to return 
home, the young naturalist quitted London with 
regret, in the latter end of April 1762, and repaired 
to Harwich, in order to embark for Holland. Here 
he was detained by contrary winds; and while most 
men would have regarded this circumstance as a 
grievous annoyance, he turned it to profit, and re- 
joiced in the opportunity it afforded of examining 
the coasts and shores, and collecting a variety of 
marine productions. On the 13th of May he landed 
in Holland, and passing through the Hague, Ley- 
den, and Amsterdam, arrived in Berlin on the 12th 
of June. 
Previous to commencing the practice of his pro- 
fession, his father sent him to Hanover, for the pur- 
pose of procuring the post of surgeon in the allied 
army ; but as peace was soon concluded, he returned 
to his native city, where he spent a year, employed 
chiefly in preparing materials for a “‘ Fauna Insec- 
torum” or “ A Description of the Insects in the 
March of Brandenburg.” 
Animated by his predilection for natural history, 
and encouraged by the favour and patronage of the 
great Gaubius, he at length prevailed with his father 
