Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 2 — John Shaqi
Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 2Drury, Dru
Science
Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 2
Drury, Dru
Insects -- Pictorial works
The objection made of the want of _names_ to the insects contained in my
first volume, the reader will here find removed; and _trivial_ as well as
_generical_ ones, given to every insect in the whole work: and likewise a
few errors of the press corrected, that have almost imperceptibly got in. I
was, indeed, truly sensible of the defect and incompleteness of that
volume, occasioned by the above circumstance, and would gladly have named
every insect then delineated; but the different opinions subsisting at that
time among entomologists, some preferring one author and some another, made
me exceeding cautious of entering on that business: and I rather chose to
defer it to the present opportunity, than give occasion for any reflections
against me, for my attachment to an author, whose method I should certainly
have pursued, and whose works have deservedly entitled him to the
appellation of _father_ of natural history. I mean the excellent Linneus,
whose system seems now to be generally approved and followed; and I must
here mention, the opportunity that the present work affords of giving an
explanation of the terms, &c. in his work, I should certainly have availed
myself of, for the benefit of the young beginner; but as my friend, Mr.
Curtis, has published a good translation of the "Fundamenta Entomologiæ" of
that author, wherein the young student, as well as the adept, who are not
versed in the Latin tongue, may receive great improvement; I must refer
them to that work for the properly understanding the plan and design of
that great author.
The reader will observe, that in giving _trivial_ names I have strictly
followed the method of Linneus. The Butterflies entitled to be ranked among
the Equites, are named after some great personage found among the Greeks
and Trojans; as in Plate iii. Fig. 1. where I have named the insect
Antenor, from a Trojan prince; and Plate ix. Fig. 1, 2. Menestheus from a
Grecian one; one belonging to the Eq. Trojanes, the other to Eq. Achivi. I
have likewise followed his rule in naming the insects belonging to other
classes; and given such as I concluded to be the most easily retained in
the memory. To this end also I have used the Latin language in preference
to the English, for the great liberty it allows {vi}of compounding and
decompounding words and names; a circumstance of the greatest consequence
in a business of this sort.
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