But whilst these discoveries were going on, he was preparing for a work by which his name became more widely known and imperish ably associated with the popular literature of his country. We allude to the Introduction to Entomology,' which he published conjointly with Mr. Spence. Mr. Kirby'a acquaintance with the latter gentleman commenced in 1805, and resulted in Mr. Spence proposing in a letter dated November 23, 1808, that they should write in partnership a " popular Introduction to Entomology." This proposition was readily acceded to by 51r. Kirby, and in 1815 the first volume of this work appeared. It speedily went through three editions, and in 1817 the second volume was published. On account of the illness of Mr. Spence the third and fourth volumes did not appear till 1826. This work at once took a position amongst the classical productions of our language, and few ecientifio publications have been so extensively read. Since the death of Mr. Kirby, Mr. Spence has published a seventh edition, to which is added an appendix, giving an account of the origin and history of the work. It is written lu the form of letters, and gives in a familiar style an account of the structure, habits, and forms of insects. It is a model of the manner in which works ou natural history to be popular should bo written, and is almost exhaustive of the subjeot of the habits, uses, injuries, and instincts of insects. Of the fifty-one letters of which this work consists, it appears that twenty were written by Mr. Kirby, nine by Mr. Spence, and twenty-two by the two authors conjointly.
In 1830 Mr. Kirby was applied to by the trustees appointed under the will of the late Earl of Bridgewater (BRiDOEWAsSa, EARL Orl to write one of the works &ince so well known as the 'Bridgewater Treatises.' Although in the seventieth year of his age, the production of such a work was so congenial to his tastes and the spirit in which be had conducted all his natural history researches, that he at once consented. The subject was tho Habits and Instincts of Animals? From his previous history it would appear that 51r. Kirby had not had such extensive opportunities of studying the other groups of animals so acourately as he had done iusects. It is therefore, espe cially considering his age, not surprising to find that this work did not equal in merit his previous productions. It contains however a
great nnmber of interesting facts which he collected with great diligence, in reference to all departments of the animal kingdom, and the spirit in which it was written was eminently in accordance with the object of the founder of the treatises.
Mr. Kirby's other principal labours are as follows :—' A Description of several new speciea of Insects collected in New Holland by Robert Brown, Esq., F.R.S ; (' Linn. Trans.' xii.); I' An Account of the Animals seen by the late Northern Expedition whilst within the Arctic Circle,' 4to, London, 1821, being a supplement to the appendix of Captain Parry's 'Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage.' The insects were described by Mr. Kirby. The insecta in 'Fauna Boreali-Americana, or the Zoology of the Northern parts of British North America,' 4to, Norwich, 1837.
Although most exemplary in the performance of his clerical duties, Mr. Kirby was never promoted in the chnrch of which he was so great an ornament. The only appointment be ever received in addition to the cure of Barham was that of chaplain to the district workhouse In 1794. In scientific circles his name was one of influ ence, He was chairman of the first meeting of the Zoological Club of the Lineman Society, which was founded in 1827. This was one of the first offshoots of the Linnnan Society, and was followed by the establishment of the Entomological Society in 1833. Of this society Mr. Kirby was elected Honorary President, and he presented it before hia death with his very valuable collection of insects. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1818, and of the Geolo gical Society in 1807. He also received the honorary diplomas of many scientific societies on the continent and the United States of America. In 1847 a museum of Natural History was founded at Ipswich ; he was present at the opening of this institution, and held the office of President till his death.
Mr. Kirby was twice married, his second wife being Mien Rodwell of Ipewich, to whom ha was married in 1816. She died in 1844. He had no family by either wife, and died on the 4th of July 1850, at the great age of ninety. His 'Life,' to which we are indebted for many of the above particulars, has been written by the Rev. John Freeman, M.A., and was published in 1852.