Notice of British Naturalists. 149 



Previous to 1757, his only publications of consequence were 

 two papers in the Philosophical Transactions. In that year, Lin- 

 njBus seeing one of the productions, was so much pleased with it 

 as to procure his election as a member of the Royal Society of 

 Upsal ; an honor which appears to have had its appropriate effect 

 upon his mind, in stirring him up to still greater endeavors; and 

 this is indeed, the principal benefit of such literary distinctions. 

 In 1761, being then thirty-five years of age, he began his first 

 great work on British Zoology. It was published in folio at his 

 own cost, and contained one hundred and thirty-two plates. 



shell-fish and other animals, of reptiles, and insects; the various important duties 

 which they perform in the economy of the world ; and the possibility of procuring 

 their assistance, or avoiding their ravages, are all subjects which have been very 

 slightly investigated. As a singular instance in point, we may mention the cul- 

 tivation of figs in the island of Malta : "The peculiar process in the treatment 

 of this fruit, is worthy of remark; and the necessity of its adoption in some coun- 

 tries, to the exclusion of otiiers, is a subject which the curious may find inter- 

 esting to determine. Where the figs are advancing towards maturity, in order to 

 prevent their falling off, and to hasten their ripening, a cluster of male figs is sus- 

 pended upon the branches of the female tree, by means of a plant, {Ammi inajus,) 

 which effectually secures them from the danger, and soon effects the desired end. 

 Many small winged insects are generally found in the male fruit upon opening it. 

 The most rational way for accounting for this effect is, that these small flies, enter- 

 ing into the male fig, yet clothed with the pollen with which the stamina on the in- 

 side are covered, and carrying it with them into the female fig, produce that natural 

 coalition which is necessary for the effectual generation of the fruit." Again, the 

 production of cattle and birds for food, is a portion of the art of natural history, and 

 requires farther study. A society, which promises to be successful in its results, 

 has lately been established in London, on this principle, for the introduction in the 

 poultry yards of various animals and birds which have hitherto been neglected. 

 Again, much improvement in some branches of mechanics might be expected from 

 an accurate investigation of this subject. The writer contributed a few years 

 since, an anonymous article to this Journal, (Vol, xxxii, pp. 73, 235.) on the 

 " Economical uses of some species of Testacea," with the view of showing that 

 even in a branch generally supposed to be least capable of any practical benefit, 

 this principle might be much extended, and greatly carried out; and if so, that 

 then in others, universally confessed to be more capable of it, it need not to be 

 neglected for fear of failure. Natural science is, still, too little considered as a 

 7iihole. It cannot be said by any means yet to have arrived at its climax ; but when 

 it is perfected, it will, it appears to us, combine in-one grand circle, natural system- 

 atical arrangement, founded on anatomical distinction ; a minute description of the 

 generic, individual and social habits of each species; a knowledge of the uses to 

 which they may be made available; the purposes of their creation, and the place 

 which each holds in the great chain of nature ; a vast mass of materials has been 

 indeed collected; but much is still wanting to finish so great a work. Nature is 

 still viewed not as a whole, but onlj^ limb by limb ; and the next great marked im- 

 provement in this science, will probably be the conjunction of the different parts 

 into one general intimate union; and the combination of the science with the art. 



