ant as to demand a separate work for their due development and preservation; and this accordingly he prepared to lay before the public.
The first volume appeared in 1752, under the title of Mémoirs pour servir à l' Histoire Naturelle des Insectes: dedicated to the Queen. It is a 4to. volume, written in French, and containing 37 plates. The principal subjects of which it treats are, the history of various kinds of caterpillars, such as leaf-rollers, those found in galls, the kinds producing butterflies and moths, &c. Many of the latter are figured and described in their perfect state. Those who have purchased the work, which cannot now be easily obtained, at least in this country, may have experienced how much more difficult it is to procure the first volume than any of the succeeding ones, without probably being aware of the cause. It is well known, that at the time of which we now speak, as well as for a long period subsequent to it, the study of the lower animals, although eagerly prosecuted by a few individuals in different countries, was entirely disregarded or even held in contempt by most people, including not a few even of those who arrogated the title of men of science. Owing principally to this circumstance, the appearance of De Geer's first volume did not excite so much interest and attention as his own estimation of the subject of it had prepared him to expect; and allowing, for a moment, the feeling of disappointment to get the better of his prudence, he committed a great part of the impression to the flames. But this feeling was very transient, and he resumed his labours
