MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 49 



necessary to extend the limits of the science to 

 which he had devoted himself. He published vari- 

 ous works on many branches of natural history, and 

 likewise on geography. All these writings, although 

 bearing marks of the rapidity with which they had 

 been composed, display intelligence, a methodical 

 mind, and great variety of knowledge. But the 

 works treating of entomology always evinced his 

 new and rapid progress in this science, until at last 

 the publication of the Genera Crustaceorum et In- 

 sectorum placed him in the first rank of the entomo- 

 logists of Europe. 



" Thus, by his labour alone he was able to satisfy 

 all his wants. In truth, his philosophy was such 

 that he could be content with little; he indulged 

 in no excess but for study, and this excess weak- 

 ened his feeble constitution. He counteracted its 

 bad effects by a frugality seldom practised, by an 

 absence of all the pleasures of the world, including 

 even those of society. But he was not on that 

 account less feelingly alive to any thing, whether 

 sad or joyful, 1 which might happen to his friends, 

 nor less obliging and kind to all. 



" He was deeply afiiicted at the calamities of 

 his country; he detested wars, civil commotions, 

 party animosity, and revolutions of whatsoever kind. 

 Great catastrophes depressed his spirits, and made 

 him nervous and unhappy, particularly in winter. 

 He did not recover his vigour and freedom of mind 

 until, on the return of spring, he could give himself 

 up to the study of nature according to the manner 



D 



