An Introduction to Entomology; or, Elements of the Natural History of Insects. Consisting an Account of Noxious and Useful Insects of their Metamorphoses, Food, Stratagens, Habitations, Societies, Motions, Noises, Hybernation, Instinct, etc.

KIRBY, William & SPENCE, William

Published by London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans:, Sixth edition, Corrected and Considerably Enlarged,, 1843

About this Item

2 vols., 8vo, [xxiv, 435pp] + [ix, 426pp], 5 hand-coloured plates, orig. blindstamped cloth gilt, a little rubbed and marked, generally a VG+ tightly bound set. A Cambridge-educated clergyman, William Kirby (1759 1850) published his first entomological work on the bees in his Suffolk parish. By contrast, the early writings of William Spence (c.1782 1860) were concerned with political economy. Having developed an interest in insects, Spence became acquainted with Kirby in 1805 and the pair collaborated on this influential work, originally published between 1815 and 1826. Spence researched for several months in the library of Sir Joseph Banks, but illness later forced Kirby to complete the project. Significantly, he distanced himself from Spence's secular treatment of insect behaviour. Charles Darwin, who had the work with him aboard the Beagle, deemed this 'the best discussion on instincts ever published'.

Seller Inventory # 674

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Introduction to Entomology; or, Elements of the Natural History of Insects. Consisting an Account of Noxious and Useful Insects of their Metamorphoses, Food, Stratagens, Habitations, Societies, Motions, Noises, Hybernation, Instinct, etc.
• Publisher: London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans:, Sixth edition, Corrected and Considerably Enlarged,
• Publication Date: 1843
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 5th or later Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Entomology
  • Natural History