18 MEMOIR OF LATRE1LLE. 



of Latreille for the Annals of the Entomological 

 Society of France, of which he was the honorary 

 president, but Ave are not aware that this has yet 

 made its appearance. The following sketch will, 

 therefore, be deficient in regard to the less impor- 

 tant incidents of his life, which, in such cases, are 

 seldom considered destitute of interest, although 

 they have no immediate connexion with the causes 

 of the individual's celebrity. Latreille lived in 

 most eventful times, and it is not to be supposed 

 but that many occurrences affecting his interests 

 and the tenor of his life befell him besides those 

 with which we have had an opportunity of becom- 

 ing acquainted, and which might be well worthy 

 of relation. 



Pierre- Andre Latreille was born on the 29th 

 November 17*32, at Brives, a small town on the 

 river Correze (a tributary of the Dordogne), in the 

 department of the same name, which formed a part 

 of the province of Limosin. His parents were de- 

 scended from an honourable family ; but their death 

 left him an orphan at an early age, and apparently 

 with very slender means of subsistence. Indeed 

 he himself says that he seemed born to misfortune 

 and obscurity. But the gentleness of his disposition, 

 and attractive manners, secured for his boyhood 

 several affectionate protectors, who did not relax 

 their exertions in his favour till he was enabled, in 

 some measure, to provide for himself. A medical 

 practitioner in his native town, M. Laroche, took a 



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