Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Entomology.djvu/70

64 The fourth and fifth are wholly occupied with the Coleoptera, and contain an account of numerous larvæ pertaining to that order which were previously unknown. The sixth volume embraces the Diptera. The seventh is of a more miscellaneous description, and besides some insects properly so called, contains a notice of crabs, spiders, scorpions, myriapodes, and some other animals which at that period were always ranked with insects. It is from this part of his work that we have copied the beautiful portrait prefixed to the present volume; but although a posthumous publication, it is unfortunately unaccompanied with any account of the author's life. All naturalists competent to form an enlightened opinion on the subject, unite in admitting that these memoirs are entitled to the very highest praise to which a work of this description can lay claim. Both nature and fortune conspired to fit De Geer for successfully prosecuting the study to which he was so ardently attached. The natural endowments of his mind were of no ordinary kind, and the best education which the times could afford had the usual effect of strengthening and improving them, and adapting them to observe and discriminate with readiness and accuracy. His time was at his own disposal, and his ample fortune gave him the immediate command of every thing that could facilitate his investigations. Such a concurrence of favourable circumstances does not often happen, and it is not often, therefore, that we can expect to be favoured with works of such value. They were combined, however, in the case