HIS AUTHORSHIP 
271 
and Linne had to adjudge the merits of the competing 
papers. In 1762 the question proposed was, “ How 
caterpillars which do harm to fruit trees by devouring 
blossoms and leaves, can best be destroyed.” 
Eleven answers were received, several being from 
Academicians, such as De Geer, Back and Bergius; 
the first prize was assigned to Torbern Bergman, 
whilst four other replies were each printed and 
rewarded with a silver medal. 
When the notes containing the names were 
opened there was one signed “ C. N. Nelin, N. 
Minist.,” an unknown person, and it has been con¬ 
jectured that under this name Linne concealed 
himself; but this cannot now be ascertained. Linne 
in 1765 sent in a memorial urging support for C. A. 
Clerck, that he might be enabled to publish his 
specially valuable work on rare insects, as the author 
was by sickness and economic stringency in want 
of such help; the result being that many of the 
Academicians readily became patrons of the book. In 
August Linne wrote to Wargentin, that the industrious 
Clerck had closed his eyes in death. “ May God 
induce the Academy to continue to value his work, so 
that it may not come to nothing, for Science has never 
seen more elegance.” After Linne’s active support of 
the Academy, it was not surprising that it should 
desire to have a portrait of its illustrious member, and 
Per Krafft the elder was commissioned to paint it 
during a stay in Stockholm; Linne declared it could 
not be bettered, his family and contemporaries also 
agreeing that it was admirably like, and it is un¬ 
doubtedly the favourite presentment of the great 
Swedish naturalist of all those which are extant. (it 
is shown in the Frontispiece of this volume.) 
Besides the Academy of Science, there was 
another learned society of which Linne was a member, 
almost ex officio, the Royal Scientific Society at 
Uppsala. He had been elected in 1738, but his first 
attendance at a meeting was in 1741, when he had 
