THE 
WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
“ ENTOMA aUIDQUID AGTJNT NOSTRI EST FARRAGO LIBELLI.” 
No. 3. — Yol. 2.] SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1863. [Price 2 d . 
EDWAED DONOVAN- 
EXTRACTS from the cele- 
“L4 brated work of this remarkable 
man may be not unsuitably prefaced 
by a Notice of bis life. 
The date of Donovan’s birth is not 
exactly known but it was probably 
somewhere near 1770. Among his 
first works was “ A Natural History 
of British Insects ”. This was begun 
in 1792, and finished according to the 
“Accentuated List” in 1803, but 
according to other accounts in 1816. 
It consisted of 16 volumes. It is not 
a systematic work, but describes and 
figures various remarkable species of 
all orders, without regard to their 
Scientific arrangement. In 1794 he 
brought out a little work entitled 
“ Instructions for Collecting and Pre- 
serving various subjects in Natural 
History,” 8vo., London. From 1794 
to 1797 he was employed in publishing 
from time to time, a work in four 
volumes consisting of drawings and 
descriptions of British Birds entitled 
“The Natural History of British 
Birds” 18mo. In 1798 he brought 
out the first of a series of works on 
the insects of Asia, illustrated with 
great artistic skill. These works were 
“ An Epitome of the Insects of China” 
1798, 4to., London. “An Epitome 
of the Natural History of the Insects 
of India” 1800, 4to., London. “An 
Epitome of the Insects of Asia” 1798 
— 1805, 4to., London 3 vols. These 
works met with an extensive sale, and 
there can be little doubt that they did 
much to encourage the Science of 
General Entomology. 
In 1805 he published a work entitl- 
ed “Descriptive excursions through 
South Wales and Monmouthshire in 
the year 1804 and four preceding 
summers ” London 8vo. This is by 
no means confined to Natural History, 
but is considered one of the best 
Archfeological works on the Subjects 
of which it treats. The Chinese lan- 
guage seems also to have formed a 
part of Donovan’s very extended field 
of Study. Indeed we think it may 
be partly owing to the universality of 
his genius, that Science is not indebt- 
ed to him for any important discovery. 
His figures are marvels of artistic ex- 
cellence but he was far behind his day 
in Scientific attainments. Donovan 
was a contemporary of the renowned 
Haworth, against whom he entertained 
anything but friendly feelings. Like 
many other men who have laboured 
