OF INSECTS IN GENERA!,. 
3*3 
order to examine their inftin&s, their metamorphofes, 
and mode of generation, he inclofed vaft numbers of 
them in a large aviary, c o nil r acted with a clofe net. and 
fecured below with a pavement overlaid with green turf, 
and planted with fhrubs and different kinds of plants. 
It was there that this unwearied obferver of nature exa- 
mined the manners and economy of thofe infects, which 
he has deferibed in a work the molt voluminous that has 
hitherto appeared on entymology. As a writer, he is ex- 
tremely diffufe, but always entertaining and inft.'uctive. 
The principal defeft in his works is the want of a fyfte- 
matic arrangement, and the fynoiumaof other uthors ; a 
precaution that was alone able to have prevented confufion 
in fo large a performance, and amid the vail number of 
infefts which he has deferibed. Thefe dcfe&s, however, 
were foon remedied by that excellent arrangement which 
the immortal author of the Syftema Naturae has introdu- 
ced into entymology, as well as every other department 
of natural hiftory. No p’nilofopher hath ever yet appear- 
ed who poffeffes the fame powers of cJafiifying the dif- 
ferent productions of the various kingdoms of nature ; 
and his iyitenr will probably long continue to be a 
ftandard to all thofe who lhall afterwards attempt to make 
improvements, or to enlarge the boundaries of natural 
hiftory. 
Since 1715, when the fyftem of nature was lirft pub- 
lilhed by Sir Charles Linnetiis, various improvements 
have been made on it by that author, who has enjoyed 
the rare felicity, not only of feeing his works gain uni- 
verfal approbation, but of many opportunities of bringing 
them nearer to perfection. In the mean time Geoffey, Sco~ 
Poli } Wqtlon, Harvey, Valifnieri, and many others of in- 
^ f % ferior 
