FABRI'CIUS, JOHANN CHRIST, was born in the year 1742 at Tundern, in the duchy of Sleswick. He was brought up to the medical profession, and at the age of twenty-three was made professor of natural history and rural economy at Kiel.
Fabricius studied under Linnmus, and afterwards enjoyed perhaps a more brilliant reputation than any other pupil of that great naturalist. He was early induced, by the circumstance of Linnmus quoting him in his Systema Natures,' especially to devote himself to the study of entomology, a science at that time in its infancy. The first results of his iuvestigatious were made known in 1775 in hie 'Systems Entomo logic;,' where he proposed a new arrangement of the insect tribe, the novelty of which consisted in choosing for his divisions the modifications observable in the parts of the mouth. Fabri clue subsequently published numerous other works of still greater importance, a list of which is given at the end of this article. Possessing a great knowledge of languages, Fabricius travelled through the northern and middle states of Europe, collecting new materials, and frequenting the various museums, from which he described all such insects as bad hitherto been unpublished. Accounts of his travels in Norway, Russia, and England, were published by him. He visited England seven times, and received great assistance from inspecting the collections of Sir Joseph Banks, John Hunter, Drury, Francillon, and others.
Although chiefly known as au entomologist, Fabrieius was not a stranger to other branches of zoology ; he was also versed in botany and mineralogy. He died of dropsy, in his sixty-fifth year. His principal works are Systems Eutomologim, sistens Insectorum Classes,' &c., 1 vol. 8vo, Flenaburgi et Lipsim, 1775 ; 'Philosophia Entomologica,' 8vo, Hamburgi et Kilonii, 1778 ; Reise nach Nor wegen, mit Bemerkungen sue der Natur Historie and fEconomie,' 8vo, Hamburg, 1779 ; Species Insectornm, siatens eorum differentiae specific's, synonymia anctorum, loca natalia, metamorphosis,' &c., 2 vole. 8vo, Hamburgi et Kilonii, 1781; 'Mantissa Insectorum, sistens species nuper detectas,' &c, 2 vols. 8vo, Hafnim, 1787; 'Genera Initectorum; 1 vol. 8vo (Chilonii), Kid, 1776 ; Entomologic+. Syste matica, emendata et aucts; 4 vols. 8vo, Hafnite, 1792.93-94 ; Index Alphabeticus,' 1796; Supplement= Entotnologiao Systematiem,' 1 vol. 8vo, Hafnise, 1798; Systema Eleuteratorutn,' 2 vols. 8vo, Kiliao, 1801; 'Index,' 8vo, Knife, 1802 ; Systeme. Rhyngotornm,' 8vo, Brunsvigte, 1801 ; 'Index Alphabeticus Rhyngotorum, genera et species continens,' quarto, Bruasvigas, 1803; 'Systems Piezatorum,' 8vo, Brunavlgn, 1804; and 'Systems Antliatorum,' 8vo, Brunsvigte, 1805.