CHAPTER XV 
linn£ as a private person and his family relations 
The portraits of Linne show that as he advanced in 
life his appearance changed considerably. He speaks 
of himself as: “ Linne was moderately big, rather 
short than tall, more lean than fat, with fairly mus¬ 
cular limbs and prominent veins from childhood. . . . 
Large head, the back of it with a transverse depression 
along the lambdoid suture. Forehead moderately 
high, wrinkled in old age. Hair neither straight nor 
curly, in childhood flaxen, afterwards brown, ruddy 
about the temples, grey in old age. Eyebrows brown. 
Pale in face. Eyes brown, very sharp, lively, glad¬ 
some; sight excellent, descrying the smallest object. 
Nose straight. A little wart on the right nostril, and 
a somewhat larger one on the right cheek. Teeth 
bad, decayed from severe toothache from youth to 
fifty years of age, entirely toothless before sixty. No 
ear for music. Weight in 1734 9^ lispund, or Stock¬ 
holm’s weight [178 lbs. avoirdupois]. Walk very 
easy, quick and lively.” 
“ He was not luxurious, but lived moderately and 
was no toper. Housekeeping he left entirely to his 
wife, occupying himself solely with the productions 
of nature. He was neither rich nor poor, but lived 
in dread of debt ”; his works were written not for 
gain but for honour. He slept in winter from nine 
till seven [in old age from eight to eight], but in 
summer from ten to three. 
To his own account of his appearance and habits 
the following may be added, written by one of his 
300 
