MEMOIR 
OF 
MARIA SIBILLA MERIAN. 
In the earlier annak of the physical sciences, we find 
very few female names included in the lists of those 
who successfully devoted themselves to such pursuits. 
The mode in which they were usually studied, the 
learned languages in whicli it was thought necessary 
that every thing relating to them should be written, 
together with an unnecessary profusion of techni- 
calities, and a most barbarous nomenclature, were 
ill fitted to recommend them to notice in any case, 
imd must have made them unattainable, if not. al- 
together repulsive, to most of the gentler sex. The 
branches relative to natural history, in particular, 
laboirred greatly rmder these disadvantages ; and a 
prejudice likewise existed against the study of some 
departmerrts, which long contiirued to operate un- 
favorrrably. To this general neglect of these pur- 
suits by her sex, at the period in question, the lady 
to whom the following notices refer, forms a signal 
exception. Not that she can lay claim to high dis- 
B 
