Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 1Drury, Dru
Science
Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 1
Drury, Dru
Insects -- Pictorial works
Dum post mortem dilectissimi parentis occupatus fui in redigendo
naturalia ab illo in Syst. Nat. nondum determinata, et ut his
nomenclaturam pro scientia naturali maxime necessariam continuarem,
maxime sollicitus fui illa, quantum mihi possibile foret, synonymis ex
præstantioribus auctoribus scientiæ illustrare, imprimis illorum qui
pulcherrimis individuorum figuris sint ornati. Tu, Vir Celeberrime, es ex
illis, qui in Insectis pulcherrima præstitisti; ex Tuo opere volumina
habeo duo, quæ in hereditario cum reliqua Bibliotheca[4] Parentis habeo;
sed an tertius termes s. plures post secundum prodiere est quod ignoro,
et de qua re rogarem tuam informationem? et si prodiere ubi inveniuntur?
et quo prætio? Amicitiam quam erga Parentem habuisti, spero hanc filiolo
permittere licentiam. Optandum esset a Te in his majorem videre
augmentum, requirunt insecta figuras; nam vix differentiis determinanda
sunt. Insecta australioris plaga mundi a Banksio et Forsteriis indagata,
pulcherrime et utilissime pro scientia methodo Tua illustrari possent.
Utinam facere vellis, immortalitatem Tuam conservaret scientia hæc!
{xi}Ego qui nunc novam paro editionem Zoologicam Syst. Nat.[5] summam in
insectis sentio difficultatem ita exprimere, ut aliis intelligas quod tam
facile figuris lævatur. Multa præstitit noster De Geer de Insectis, sed
majora adhuc præstitisset, si figuræ vivis coloribus ornatæ fuissent.
Quis Entomologus est alius apud vos qui collectionem Insectorum possidet
ex India occidentali, si quis esset qui desideraret insecta Suecica
lubenter Illi ea præstare vellem.
Nuper litteras habui ex America Meridionali ubi morbus endemius est
hominum etiam Europeos aggredit illuc venientes quæ causatur a larva
Oestri, quæ intra cutem per integrum annum coelatus et nullo remedio
expelli potest nisi periculo vitæ; est nova species Oestri.
Sed hic vale et mihi fave.
Dabam Upsaliæ, d. 10 Mart. 1780.
To Mr. D. Drury, Goldsmith in the Strand, in London.
My late friend A. H. Haworth, Esq. thus spoke of Drury and his works in the
year 1807. "In the year 1770 we arrive at the time of publication of a
beautiful work on Entomology, that of my late and regretted friend D.
Drury, F.L.S. in one vol. 4to. printed at London, and containing
comprehensive descriptions in English and French, with an Index of Linnæan
names at the end, and a great many coloured copper-plates of such
interesting exotic Insects, as had not been before or insufficiently
figured. The icons were executed by Moses Harris, in his best style; and
are far superior to any of their predecessors in Britain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account