OF INSECTS IN GENERAL, 323 



order to examine their inftinfts, their metamorphofes, 

 and mode 'of generation, he inclofed vaft nvxmbers of 

 them in a large aviarj, conilrufted with a clofe net. and 

 fecured below with a pavement overlaid with green turf, 

 and planted with fhrubs and different kinds of plants. 

 It was there that this unwearied obferver of nature exa- 

 mined the manners and economy of thofe infefts, which 

 he has defcribed in a work the mod: voluminous that has 

 hitherto appeared on entymology. As a writer, he is ex- 

 tremely diffufe, but always entertaining and inflruclive. 

 The principal defect in his works is the want of a fyfte- 

 matic arrangement, and the fynonima of other authors ; a 

 precaution that was alone able to have prevented confuilon 

 in fo large a performance, and amid the vafl number of 

 infefts which he has defcribed. Thefe defects, however, 

 were foon remedied by that excellent arrangement which 

 the immortal author of the Syftema Nature has introdu- 

 ced into entymology, as well as every other department 

 of natural hiftory. No philofopherhath ever yet appear- 

 ed who pofleiTes the fame powers of clafllfying the dif- 

 ferent produftions of the various kingdoms of nature ; 

 and his fyilem will probably long continue to be a 

 ftandard to all thofe who fliall afterwards attempt ta make 

 improvementSj or to enlarge the boundaries of natural 

 hiftory. 



Since 1 7 15, when the fyftem of nature was firft pub- 

 lillied by Sir Charles LimnEiss^ various improvements 

 have been made on it by that author, who has enjoyed 

 the rare felicity, not only of feeing his works gain uni- 

 verfal approbation, but of many opportunities of bringing 

 them nearer to perfection. In the meantime Geo^ey, Sco- 

 poUj Wctiorif Har'vej, Valifnieriy and many others of in- 

 S f 3 ferioi- 



