4.22 PRINCIPLES @F BOTANY, ETC. 
before that time been done, His only fault is, thas 
his descriptions are too prolix*. : 
Maria Sybilla Merian, daughter of the famous 
Dutch engraver, Math. Merian, born in 1647. Her 
great love for Entomology induced her to go for 
some time to Surinam, to see with her own eyes 
the metamorphoses of the many insects there. After 
her return, she published a most splendid workf{ on 
the metamorphosis of insects, in which several plants 
likewise were drawn, which Caspar Commelyn de- 
scribed. Some copies are most splendidly colcured 
by herself. Miss Merian died 1717. 
Hermann Boerhaave was born near Leyden, in 
the villaze Voorhout in 1668. His father, a cler- 
gyman, wished him to take orders, and he was there- 
fore obliged to study divinity. When on a little 
journey, he met with a merchant, against whom he 
defended Spinoza’s doctrines. That gentleman, in 
consequence of this, informed against him as a he- 
retic, and follower of Spinoza, and hence he aban- 
doned his former study entirely. Boerhaave after- 
wards became Professor of Medicine, Chemistry, 
and Botany, and died September 30, 1738. His 
* Joh. Scheuchzeri Agrostographiae prodromus, Tiguri. 
¥708. fol. 
Ejusd. Agrostographia sive graminum, juncorum, cypero- 
sum, cyperoidum iisque adfinium historiam. Tiguri. 1719. 
Ato. ‘The first small work 1s printed along with this. : 
* Maria Sybilla Merian Metamorphosis insectorum Surina- 
mensium. Ant. 1705. 1709. fol. with 60 plates, and Dutch 
and French text. 
fame 
