on him to accompany him to Italy, by offering to purchase his museum for twelve thousand florins, and assign him a residence at his own court of Florence. But this generous proposal he did not hesitate to decline, both from an unwillingness to leave his native country, and submit to the restraint and change of habits which such a step would necessarily entail.
His prosecution of the study of insects was now almost incessant. When occasionally diverted from it for a short time by inevitable occurrences, he again returned to it with redoubled ardour, and a perseverance which seemed to know no relaxation. Of this we may judge from the fact, that in the year 1669—only two years after obtaining his degree, and notwithstanding the interruptions occasioned by his illness and numerous scientific avocations of a different nature—he published a General History of Insects; a work of considerable extent and remarkable labour.[1] During its preparation he neglected, in a great measure, his professional prospects, and incurred no small expense in collecting insects from all quarters of the world. Hitherto he had been entirely dependant on his father in pecuniary matters, and the latter now began to intimate his disapprobation of his manner of expending both his money and his time. He urged him to abandon pursuits which brought no remuneration, and betake himself
- ↑ Written in Dutch, and published at Utrecht in 4to. A French Translation appeared at the same place in 1682, and several Latin editions exist.
