C 339 ] 



following papers In th^ Ammitates Academic^^'^* 2^, 

 Gemmatio Arhorum^ 63. Metamorphofis Plantarum^ 

 lb I. Generatio AmUgena^ 118, 120. Prolepfis Plan- 

 tarum j and to the tntroduBion to the Vegetable Syftento 

 [It may be obferved, that there is a fet of ex- 

 periments made by M. Mtifiel^ printed in the Phu^ 

 Tranf vol. Ixiii. p. 126, Vv'hich feem to favour 

 the theory of vegetation here advanced, as far at 

 leaft as relates to the cortical fubftance being the 

 depofit of nutriment, and the effed of warmth 

 on the expanfive and protrufive force of the me- 

 dullary. Yet it muft be ailowed that too many- 

 difficulties attend every theory on this obfcurc 

 fubjea.] 



121. GentI^ria ti^SECTORuM. B.J'ohanJfoH, 176^, 



Infedls were fcarcely noticed before the time of 

 Conrad Gefner, whofe comprehenfive mind extended 

 over the whole field of nature. He, together with 

 Mouffet, and Aldrovand, may be faid to have laid 

 the foundation of entomological fcience. To thefe 

 fucceeded another fet of writers^ who were princi^ 

 pally em.ployed in inveftigating the economy and 

 furprizing metamorphofes of infers ; fuch were 

 Geodart, Lifier, Swammcrdam^ and Reaumur^ to whom 

 may be added Madam Merian, who took a voyage 

 to Surinam, with the fole view of gratifying a tafte 

 for this branch of natural hiftory. 



Neverthelefs, after all the refearches of thefe in- 

 genious perfons, and the labours of our excellent 

 •Mr. Ray, a defed of fyflem rendered this fubjea 

 the moft difficult to ftudy of any part of na- 



^ 2 tural 



