Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/18

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MEMOIR OF LATREILLE.

of Latreille for the Annals of the Entomological Society of France, of which he was the honorary president, but we are not aware that this has yet made its appearance. The following sketch will, therefore, be deficient in regard to the less important incidents of his life, which, in such cases, are seldom considered destitute of interest, although they have no immediate connexion with the causes of the individual's celebrity. Latreille lived in most eventful times, and it is not to be supposed but that many occurrences affecting his interests and the tenor of his life befell him besides those with which we have had an opportunity of becoming acquainted, and which might be well worthy of relation.

Pierre-André Latreille was born on the 29th November 1762, at Brives, a small town on the river Correze (a tributary of the Dordogne), in the department of the same name, which formed a part of the province of Limosin. His parents were descended from an honourable family; but their death left him an orphan at an early age, and apparently with very slender means of subsistence. Indeed he himself says that he seemed born to misfortune and obscurity. But the gentleness of his disposition, and attractive manners, secured for his boyhood several affectionate protectors, who did not relax their exertions in his favour till he was enabled, in some measure, to provide for himself. A medical practitioner in his native town, M. Laroche, took a