Biology and Its Makers: With Portraits and Other IllustrationsLocy, William A. (William Albert)
History
Biology and Its Makers: With Portraits and Other Illustrations
Locy, William A. (William Albert)
Biology -- History
Fig. 27 shows the nervous system of the head, including the extremely
fine nervous masses which are designated the sympathetic nervous system.
[Illustration: Fig. 24.
Fig. 24.--Muscles of the Larva of the Willow Moth. (From Lyonet's
Monograph.)]
[Illustration: Fig. 25.
Fig. 25.--Central Nervous System and Nerves of the Same.]
The extraordinary character of the drawings in Lyonet's monograph
created a sensation. The existence of such complicated structures
within the body of an insect was discredited, and, furthermore, some
of his critics declared that even if such a fine organization existed,
it would be beyond human possibilities to expose the details as shown
in his sketches. Accordingly, Lyonet was accused of drawing on his
imagination. In order to silence his critics he published in the
second edition of his work, in 1752, drawings of his instruments and a
description of his methods.
[Illustration: Fig. 26.--Dissection of the Head of the Larva of the
Willow Moth.]
Lyonet intended to work out the anatomy of the chrysalis and the adult
form of the same animal. In pursuance of this plan, he made many
dissections and drawings, but, at the age of sixty, on account of the
condition of his eyes, he was obliged to stop all close work, and his
project remained unfinished. The sketches which he had accumulated were
published later, but they fall far short of those illustrating the
_Traité Anatomique_. Lyonet died in 1789, at the age of eighty-one.
[Illustration: Fig. 27.--The Brain and Head Nerves of the Same Animal.]
Roesel, Réaumur, and De Geer on Insect Life.--We must also take note
of the fact that, running parallel with this work on the anatomy of
insects, observations and publications had gone forward on form,
habits, and metamorphosis of insects, that did more to advance the
knowledge of insect life than Lyonet's researches. Roesel, in Germany,
Réaumur, in France, and De Geer, in Sweden, were all distinguished
observers in this line. Their works are voluminous and are well
illustrated. Those of Réaumur and De Geer took the current French title
of _Mémoires pour servir à l'Histoire des Insectes_. The plates with
which the collected publications of each of the three men are provided
show many sketches of external form and details of external anatomy,
but very few illustrations of internal anatomy occur. The sketches of
Roesel in particular are worthy of examination at the present time.
Some of his masterly figures in color are fine examples of the art
of painting in miniature. The name of Roesel (Fig. 28) is connected
also with the earliest observations of protoplasm and with a notable
publication on the Batrachians.
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