BERGIA, a genus of plants, of the class Decan- dria, and order Pentagynia. Sec BOTANY. (w) ' BERGMAN, TORBERN, SIR, a celebrated Swe dish chemist, was born at Catharineberg, in the pro vince of West Gothland, on the 20th March 1735. His father, who was receiver of finances in the dis trict, destined young Bergman for his successor in office ; but the disposition which he began to dis play, seemed to be hostile to the intentions of his fa- . milt'. His friends, and the whole neighbourhood, . were annoyed by his extreme petulance and forward ness. He seized all,things that came in his way, and amused himself by throwing' them into the fire, and observing the manner in which they were consumed.. Neither threats nor punishment could overcome this scientific propensity; and to such a degree was it car ) ried, that when any thing was lost in the vicinity, young Bergman was accused of having burnt it.
Having finished the early part of his education at Skara, a place celebrated by its college, he was sent at the age of 17 to the university of Upsal, and was placed under the charge of a near relation. The ar dour with which he cultivated the study of mathema tics and natural philosophy, was checked by his guar dian, and the Elements of •the Astronomy of Keill, and the Principia of Newton, were among the books prohibited by this enemy of the sciences. But the mind of Bergman could not be restrained by such unworthy fetters; and though he appeared to yield a becoming submission to the will of his relation, lie contrived, by means of a drawer concealed under his table, to get possession of his favourite authors, when sleep or absence had disarmed the vigilance of his friend. Being thus compelled to study at those un timely hours, when nature would have prompted him to seek for repose, his body was unable to support the exertions of his mind, and he was obliged to re turn to Catharineberg to seek the restoration of his health in the bosom of his friends, and in the retire ment and exercises of a country life. In consequence of the recovery of his strength, he returned to Upsal in 1754, with the permission of his family, to devote himself wholly to the sciences. The illustrious Lin
nzus, who then lived at Upsal, was in the zenith of his fame. Encouraged by his example, and aspiring to a portion of his glory, the youth at Upsal sought for distinction in the study of natural history.. The ardent mind of Bergman was particularly actuated by this generous impulse. He began his career with the study of entomology ; and such was the rapidity of his progress, that he soon attracted the particular notice of Linnaeus himself. He made profound re searches respecting several species - of moths and ca. terpillars, and upon the tenthredo or saw-flies, that are devoured by the larva; of ichneumons, which feed upon their entrails, and cover themselves with their envelope. He divided the caterpillars into five spe cies, depending on the disposition of their wings and feet. His observations on bees, and his useful experi: meets for the purpose of preventing the ravages committed upon fruit trees, by an insect called pho ny:a brumalis, gained him the prize of the royal aca demy of Stockholm. The method of extirpation, suggested by these experiments, was .tried by Mr President Cronsted, who, in a short time, took above 20,000 of the females. His observations on leeches were equally interesting and successful. Linnzus' and Muller had observed several species of these ani mals ; but it was reserved for Bergman to observe their eyes and throat. He discovered that they were oviparous, and that the coccus aguaticus is the egg of the leech, containing 10 or 12 young. Linnaeus, to whom Bergman communicated this discovery, at first denied the fact, but his incredulity was soon changed into conviction. He exclaimed with enthusiasm, vidi et obstupui (I saw and was astonished) ; and iii signing the memoir upon that subject, he wrote these words at the bottom, and transmitted it to the aca demy of Stockholm with that honourable passport.