Butterfly3 (old)

Description:

The leading entomologists of the 18th century, notably Linnaeus and Fabricius, were describers and system builders at the same time. As the number of known insects increased rapidly toward the century’s end, the need for a satisfactory taxonomic system became urgent. Pierre-André Latreille (1760-1833) put together a more workable system based on a combination of the features that Linnaeus and Fabricius used with added attention to morphological details from all parts of the insect body. This book is part of a 206-volume encyclopedia published over a 50-year period from 1782-1832. Its title translates to “Methodical Encyclopedia by Order of Subject Matter.” This ambitious undertaking was a revised and expanded version of Diderot’s Encyclopédie, the illustrated 35-volume work of Enlightenment thought and belief, as well as a compendium of the technologies of the period. During its lengthy publication period, the Encyclopédie Méthodique employed 1,000 workers and 2,250 contributors. Latreille wrote and edited the section on entomology.