Amongst the Greek writers who immediately, or with in a few centuries, followed Aristotle, treating on insects, were Democritus, Neoptolemus, Philistus, Nicander, Herodius, with many others of less note. These writers were probably cotcmporary with Pliny ; and, during the same period, several Latin writers seem to have been induced to pursue this science, through the in fluence of the Greeks, who were insensibly led to it from attending to the culture of bees, which at that time was attended to with the most enthusiastic ardour. Aris tamachus of Soli is said to have written on the subject, from the result of fifty years experience ; and Philiseus to have employed his whole life in forests and deserts attending to their history.
Pliny, in the eleventh book of his Historic Xaturalial treats of insects. IIis observations are chiefly copied from the work of Aristotle. In his day, the culture of silk worms was an object of attention. 11c says that garments of silk were much admired in his days by the fair sex, as it sheaved their form to advantage front the delicacy of its texture.
From the time of Pliny till the overthrow of the Ro man empire, the study seems not to have been totally dis regarded ; but we are ignorant what steps Were advan ced during that period. Amongst the writers were Ti tus, .F.tius, Alexander, Oribasius, Trallian and Paulus ..V.gineta, who lived between the fourth and seventh cen tury. Between the ninth and twelfth century, some of the Arabian botanists distinguished themselves as ento mologists. The principal were R hazes, Avicenna, Aven zoar, and Averrhocs. From this period till the fifteenth century, a few obscure writers, scarcely worthy of notice, appeared, viz. 1\Iyrepsus, Platerus, &c.
Albcrtus Magnus wrote a general zoological work, en titled, De Anamalibus, part of which treats of insects. Ile died 1280, but his work did not appear till the year 1619, being printed at Venice.
In 1549, Agricola published his work, De Animalibus Subterraneis, which contains a systematic arrangement of insects. He reduces all insects to three principal classes, viz. 1. Those that walk ; 2. Those that fly ; and 3. Those furnished with swimming feet ; and describes a number of species.
In 1552, Edward NVotton published a work, entitled, De Diyercntiis Animalium, in which he treats largely on insects. The book is in folio, and appeared three years before the author's death.
In 1555, Rondelctius of Montpellier gave his valuable work, " Universa aquatilium Historic pars altcra,” to the world, in which he treats of insects, which he accompa nies with wood cuts.
In 1599, in folio, was published at Naples, "Ferrante Imperato Historia Xaturale libri 28." In 1602, a very voluminous work was published, enti tled De Animalibus Insectis, by the " indefatigable com piler" Aldrovandus. Donovan is inclined to give him considerable credit. He has certainly acquitted himself in collecting together the undigested observations of the ancients ; but from his entire ignorance of the subject, he has necessarily fallen into all the errors of his prede cessors : we must, however, allow, that he has acted with candour, having rarely omitted to mention his authori ties. He was professor of medicine at Bologna, and em ployed much of his time in the study of insects, and ex pended large sums of money in acquiring specimens, and _employing artists to figure them. He is stated to have paid two hundred florins annually to an artist, who was occupied solely in the delineation of insects. He divides insects into two great orders, 1. Terrestrial; 2. Aquatic, which he terms Insecta farica, and .iVon farica : these he divides into sub-orders, from the number and situation of their wings and feet. His figures are but rudely ex pressed, which is excusable. At this time a taste for more expensive embellishments began to prevail ; but as the art of engraving on copper had scarcely emerged from its infancy, these works were exclusively produced by artists themselves.
In 1612, the Historia Aninzalium Sacra, by \Volfang Frenzius, dividing insects into three classes, 1. Aeria, 2. Aquatica, S. Terrea, and containing several new obser vations, appeared: and three years afterwards, in the year 1616, at Rome, a pamphlet of about one hundred pages, in Latin, entitled, Dc Formica, by Jcremin Wilde.
In 1622, a work but remotely relating to insects, in 4to, appeared in Edinburgh, bearing the following title, Hicroglyphica Aninzalium T errestrium, Est c. qu cc in Scrip tuns Sacris inveniuntur et plurium aliorum, cum corum interprctationibzis ; which, being the first work relating to insects published in Britain, is not unworthy of notice as a curiosity.