
| Transcriber's note: | The copy on which this edition is based was bound with the 3 volumes of text in one physical volume and the plates in another. They have been reordered into 3 separate projects with the plates inserted adjacent to the related text - other copies are known to have been bound in this fashion. Project Gutenberg has the other two volumes of this work. Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47599. Volume II: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47600. |
MR. DRURY'S PREFACE
PLATE I.
PLATE II.
PLATE III.
PLATE IV.
PLATE V.
PLATE VI.
PLATE VII.
PLATE VIII.
The third volume of this historic series presents more than six hundred finely rendered illustrations of insects collected from distant lands, each paired with a concise description and thoughtful commentary on its habits and characteristics. Compiled in the late eighteenth century, the work reflects the scientific language and classification methods of its era, offering modern listeners a glimpse into the foundations of modern entomology. The plates, arranged alongside the text, showcase the meticulous artistry that accompanied early natural‑history research.
Behind the images lies the story of a dedicated naturalist who opened his cabinet to fellow scholars across the globe, gathering specimens and sparse observations despite poor health and limited time. He candidly explains the delays caused by coordinating artists and the occasional overlap with already published names, inviting readers to appreciate both the beauty of the specimens and the challenges of early scientific publishing. For anyone curious about the blend of art, exploration, and the beginnings of systematic insect study, this volume provides an engaging, scholarly adventure.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (298K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, Keith Edkins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2014-12-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1725–1803
An 18th-century British entomologist and collector, he built one of the great insect collections of his time and helped bring specimens from around the world to a wider audience. His beautifully illustrated books on exotic insects became lasting landmarks in natural history publishing.
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