To avoid the formal parade of quotation, and the fastidious charge of plagiarism, I have subjoined to this preface a list of the authors which have been consulted. As my extracts were made at very distant periods, it would have been impossible for me to recollect to whom I was indebted for every new fact or ingenious observation.
The plates were drawn and engraved with a view to be folded up with the work; but as it is the opinion of many of my friends that they would, by this mean, be materially injured, I have been advised to have them stitched in strong blue paper, and leave it to the purchaser to dispose of them to his own mind.
A LIST OF THE AUTHORS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSULTED IN THE COMPILATION OF THE FORMER AND PRESENT EDITION OF THESE ESSAYS.
ADAMS. Micrographia Illustrata, or the Microscope Explained. London, 1746 and 1781.
BAKER. An Attempt towards the Natural History of the Polype. London, 1743.
BAKER. The Microscope made Easy. London, 1744.
BAKER. Employment for the Microscope. London, 1753.
BARBUT. Genera Insectorum of Linnæus. 4to. London, 1781.
BERKENHOUT. Botanical Lexicon. 8vo. London, 1764.
BERKENHOUT. Synopsis of Natural History. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1789.
BIRCH. History of the Royal Society. 4to. 4 vols. London, 1756.
BONNANI. Observationes circa Viventia, quæ in Rebus non Viventibus reperiuntur, &c. 4to. 1691.
BONNET. Oeuvres d’Histoire Naturelle et de Philosophie. 9 tom. 4to. Neufchatel, 1779.
BRAND. Select Dissertations from the Amœnitates Academicæ, &c. 8vo. London, 1781.
CURTIS. Instructions for Collecting and Preserving Insects. 8vo. London, 1771.
CURTIS. Translation of the Fundamenta Entomologiæ. 8vo. London, 1772.
CURTIS. Flora Londinensis. Folio. London, 1777, &c.
CURTIS. Botanical Magazine. 8vo. London, 1787, &c.
CYCLOPÆDIA. By Dr. Rees. 4 vols. Folio. London, 1786.
DE GEER. Memoires pour servir a l’Histoire des Insectes. 4to. 7 tom. 1752.
DELLEBARRE. Memoires sur les Differences de la Construction et des Effects du Microscope. 1777.
DERHAM. Physico-Theology. 8vo. London, 1732.
DONOVAN. History of British Insects. 8vo. London, 1792, &c.
DONOVAN. Treatise on the Management of Insects. 8vo. London, 1794.
DU HAMEL DU MONCEAU. La Physique des Arbres. Paris, 1757.