18 
MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 
of Latrcille for the Annals of the Entomological 
Society of France, of which he was the honorary 
president, hut we are not aware that this has yet 
made its appearance. The following sketch will, 
therefore, he deficient in regard to the less impor- 
tant incidents of his life, which, in such cases, are 
seldom considered destitute of interest, although 
they havo no immediate connexion with the causes 
of the individual's celebrity. Latreille lived in 
most eventful times, and it is not to be supposed 
but that many occurrences affecting his interests 
and the tenor of his life befell him besides those 
w T ith which we have had an opportunity of becom- 
ing acquainted, and which might be well worthy 
of relation. 
/ 
Pierre- Andre Latreille was born on the 29th 
November 1762, at Brivcs, a small town on the 
river Correze (a tributary of the Dordogne), in the 
department of the same name, which formed a part 
of the province of Limosin. Ilis parents were de- 
scended from an honourable family ; but their death 
left him an orphan at an early age, and apparently 
with very slender means of subsistence. Indeed 
he himself says that lie seemed born to misfortune 
and obscurity. But the gentleness of his disposition, 
and attractive manners, secured for his boyhood 
several affectionate protectors, who did not relax 
their exertions in his favour till he was enabled, in 
some measure, to provide for himself. A medical 
practitioner in his native town, M. Laroche, took a 
