MARIA SIIilLLA MERIAN. 
27 
and plants. She designed to remain for a much 
longer time, hut the heat of the climate had such 
an injurious effect on her health, that she was un- 
der the necessity of leaving the country before her 
plans had been fully accomplished. She returned to 
Europe towards the close of the year 1701, and on 
showing her drawings to the lovers of natural his- 
tory, they were judged so much superior to any 
productions of the kind they had previously wit- 
nessed, that she was urged to publish them imme- 
diately. But the expense of executing engravings 
on such a scale, caused this to be delayed for some 
years, and it was not till 1705 that they were given 
to the public, under the title of Metamorphosis 
Inseotorum Surinamenshtm, &c. the text draivn up 
by Gaspar Commelin, ftom the manuscripts of the 
author. 
Before attempting to give some accoimt of this, 
tlie most important of her publications, it may be 
proper to narrate the few additional particulars 
which we have been able to collect regarding her, 
and to notice some of the subsequent editions of her 
works. The costly volume just mentioned originally 
consisted of sixty plates ; with a view to extend it 
and render it more complete, she is said to have sent 
her eldest daughter a second time to America, to 
collect additional materials. Slie received in conse- 
quence many new drawings and manuscripts, which 
she was preparing for publication, when she became 
mi well, and died on 13th January, 1717- These 
