43 4: HISTORY OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
This era produced several great and original geniuses, 
who enriched the science with a vast increment of real 
knowledge. The illustrious Zoologists whose names it 
bears,—the one by his dissections and anatomical re- 
searches, and the other by his concise and well drawn 
descriptions of numerous insects, by various interesting 
observations on their manners and characters, and by 
the purity of his latinity,—contributed greatly to its pro- 
gress towards perfection. Leeuwenhoek also, the com- 
patriot of Swammerdam, and Hooke of Ray, amongst 
other objects submitted to their powerful microscopes, 
did not neglect insects.—To the former we are indebted 
for the remarkable discovery that the flea belongs to 
those that undergo a metamorphosis. Ray had besides 
two coadjutors whose names ought not to be forgotten,— 
Willughby and Dr. Martin Lister, The former is cha- 
racterized by his lamenting friend as one of the pro- 
foundest of naturalists, as well as one of the most amia- 
ble and virtuous of men. What advantage Entomology 
would have reaped from his labours may be inferred 
from the eminent services that he rendered that science, 
amongst other branches of Zoology, during his short 
life. It appears from Ray’s Letters*, that he drew up a 
history of insects and exsanguza, which probably formed 
the groundwork of the posthumous Historia Insectorum 
of that author; concerning which he says, ‘ The work 
which I have now entered upon is indeed too great a 
task for me: I rely chiefly on Mr. Willughby’s dis- 
coveries and the contributions of friends.” And in- 
deed Willughby’s name and initials occur so frequently 
in that work, that it may be esteemed their joint pro- 
* Philos. Lett. &c. 141. > Tbid. 343. 
