In this year also, D. Drury published a very beautiful work in one volume, containing comprehensive descrip tions in English and French, with an index of Linnvean names, illustrated by coloured copperplates, entitled, Illustrations of Natural History, wherein are exhibited Figures of exotic Insects, Eg'c. The plates form a mis cellaneous assemblage of the more beautiful extra Eu ropean insects, which the extensive collection of its author afforded. Three years after the publication of the first volume, a second appeared ; and the third, which concludes the work as far as it proceeded, appeared in 1782. Besides those figured and described in the three volumes published, the extensive cabinet of Mr Drury contained many choice specimens, reserved as materials for a fourth volume, amongst which were a vast number of curious species, collected in the interior of Africa, and other parts of the world, rarely visited by Europeans, the introduction of which would have rendered this vo lume, (which was never published), of much greater in terest to entomologists in general, than either of the preceding. We may observe, that Mr Drury's cabinet was one of the most extensive ever made, and is said to have contained in species and varieties, no less than 11,000 insects, (in his time the largest collection,) which he obtained by transmitting printed directions and in structions, in various languages, for gathering and pre serving insects, offering sixpence an insect for all insects, ti from the size of a honey-bee upwards." His museum of entomology was disposed of, in London, by public auction, and produced about six hundred pounds. One insect, viz Scarabceus Goliathus, (Goliathus magnus,) was purchased by Mr Donovan, for twelve guineas and a half, who obtained also all the British insects, (which were very numerous,) collected by Mr Drury, and now enrich his splendid museum.
And in this year also, G. A. Harrer's Beschreiburg der jenigen Insecten wekhe Herr D. J. Christoph. Schx1rer in cclxxx ausgemahlten kupfertafeln lzerausgegeben hat, Regensburg., octavo.
In 1771, John Reinhold Forster published Nova species Ineectorum ccnturta, 1; the avowed purpose of which, as the reader is informed in the preface, was to give descriptions of one hundred insects, not mentioned in the latest work of the illustrious Linne. The insects included are partly indigenous ; some are from China, and others from South America. The greater number of these arc coleopterous insects, and are arranged after the manlier of Linik, except the genera anthribus and cigtc/a, which arc taken from Geoffroy. We may ob serve many of the insects seem to have been unknown ui Linne, and sonic few were previously made known to the world, by the works of Schteffer and Drury. This the author was aware of; but as they had escaped the observation of Linne, whose work he was solicitous to improve, it was considered right to introduce them. He was one of those eminent naturalists who accompanied the celebrated Captain Cook in his voyage round the world, and his labours as an entomologist in those times entitled him to respect.
The Mantissa Plantarum altcra generum editionis vi. it Specierum cditionis ii. Hohnix, of Linne, in which several insects, not noticed in other parts of his works, are described, octavo, appeared in this year.
In 1772, Curtis published in London a translation of the Fundamenta Entomologic: of Linne, which consider ably advanced the study in this country.
And in the same year, Dr John Coakley Lettsome, published ih octavo, The Naturalists and Travellers Com panion, giving directions how to collect and preserve all sorts of natural productions. It has since undergone several editions, and may be considered as a very use ful book to students of entomology.
Also M. Th. 13runnichii Fundamenta Jzrelec tionibus academicis accommodata,Hafnix et Li ps4, octavo.
In 1773, Kahn published a tract relative to the mode of preserving and catching insects, entitled Kurze anlei lung Insecten zu sammlen.
Thomas Pattinson Yeats published Institutions of Ento mology; an useful work, being a translation of the Lin mean orders and genera, collated with three other sys tems, namely, those of Geoffroy, Scopoli, and Schiffer, together with many ingenious observations, by its trans lator. It is particularly defective, however, in the com parison drawn between the systems of Linne and Scopoli, from an event which could not be anticipated. When Scopoli published his Entomologia Carniolica, he coinci ded very nearly with Urine, in his arrangement ; but in a work of his, (soon to be noticed, ) he abandoned that method, and adopted another. For an account of the system alluded to, see the year 1777.
In this year, the account of a tour made by the cele brated Russian naturalist Pallas, appeared, entitled, P. S. Pallas Reise darch Verschiedene Provinzen des Russi chen Reichs, St Petersburgh, which has been rendered into Latin and English.
In this year also, Dr John Hill published a Decade of curious Insects, some of them not described before, shown in their natural size, and as they appeared before the Lncernal Microscope, in which the Apparatus was artificially illuminated ; with their History, &cc.: illus trated with ten quarto plates, in which the figures are sometimes immensely magnified, and far from correct. The scientific accounts are given in English, accom panied with various interesting observations•as to their natural history and economy.
In the Transactions of the Entomological Society of _London, vol. i. part 1. the work of Benjamin Wilks is stated to have been published in this year, but is noticed by us as having been published in the year 1749, or ear lier: hut, from the comments made on that work by Mick it must have been published, as we have stated, in or before 1749.
In 1774 was published at Amsterdam, in folio, by Jacob L'Admiral, Vcrandrringrn van Veele Insecten.