t66 
LINN /EUS PROFESSOR AT UPSAL. 
illustrating their medical and ceconomical properties, the place of their 
growth, and their Swedish and provincial denominations. Gmelin, 
in a letter to Haller said, he was very much pleased with that work, 
which was a fresh proof of the astonishing diligence of Linnaeus*. 
This first edition contained a description of 1140 plants, and in the 
second, their number was augmented to 1296. 
A twelvemonth after the publication of this Flora, followed a de- 
scription of the Swedish animals, birds, amphibies, fishes, insebts and 
worms t; a work which he had already began to collebt, while a student 
at Upsal in the year 1730. There had never appeared so general and 
complete a zoology of any country. The first edition contained 1350 
articles. By his own discoveries and the observations of his pupils, 
this number was increased, in a second edition, fifteen years after, to 
2266. This last edition presented the following state and proportion of 
the animal reign in Sweden: 1691 species of insebls, 198 of worms, 
195 of birds, 77 of fishes, 53 of sucking animals, and 25 of amphibies. 
Entire and absolute perfection cannot possibly be expebted in a work of 
this description. B.eck justly observed, that something is still left to 
be added to it by the diligence of posterity; but that at any rate the 
honour belongs in preference to him who first paved the way to such 
perfebtion. 
The beginning of the academical career of Linn.eus, so celebrated 
for writings, travels and reforms, so replete with patriotic and scientific 
ablivity, did not remain unrewarded. His merits were now honoured 
* Flora Linnjei placet. Est enlrn stupendce ejus diligentie novum argumentum. Epist. ad 
Haller. Vol. ii. p. 25 o. Haller however did not like the work. 
•f Fauna Suecica , sistens animalia Suecica; regni, &c. Holm. 1746. 
and 
