ENTOMOLOGICAL. THE STORY OF MONS. QUaTREMER D'ISJOUVIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 20

ENTOMOLOGICAL. THE STORY OF MONS. QUaTREMER D'ISJOUVIL.

We have heard how the great entomologist Latreille's life was saved, and the publication of his valuable works secured, by his discovering a rare insect whilst confined in a prison awaiting transportation for a supposed political offence. The story simply amounts to the fact that in sending the insect to a rising young naturalist, whose friends happened to have considerable influence, Latreille disclosed his ability as an entomologist, and interest was made which liberated him, whilst the vessel in which his fellow prisoners set sail foundered at sea,,' and they all were drowned. The story of d'lsjouvil is one in which a similar love of natural science saved his captivity, if not his life, and led to very important results in historical events. D'lsjouvil was by birth a Frenchman, but served as an officer in the Dutch army until, owing to his having taken part in a revolt against the Stadtholder, he was cast into a dungeon at Utrecht, in which he lay for eight weary years without the least prospect of release. During his long confinement the poor prisoner had no method of occupying his mind to relieve the tedious monotony except by watching the actions of some spiders, which were the only living creatures to share his captivity. He very soon discovered that their movements and habits were markedly different at different times, and being a lover of Nature he set himself to discover the causes that affected their actions, with the result that he found thatgthey were undoubtedly atmospheric. By degrees, with infinite care and a closer observation than anyone under other circumstances would be able to devote to the purpose, he was enabled to perceive that these little animals foresaw the changes in the weather long before they arrived. At length he was able to prognosticate with certainty what those changes would be, and how long before they took placo, by attention to the movements of his little friends. How he was ever to be able to give effect to his extraordinary discoveries or to benefit himself by them, was not easy to imagine. Nevertheless, as it turned out, a time was at hand when they should not only accomplish his ardently-desired release, but effect the subjugation of his enemies, and the advancement of his native country.

In the winter of the year 1794-, the armies of the French Republic over-ran Holland with their troops, taking advantage of the ice to move over the country with their artillery and baggage waggons, but early in December a very unxepected thaw set in, and so hampered their movements and endangered their position, that the generals had serious thoughts of accepting a sum of money offered by the Dutch Government to withdraw from the country and abandon the enterprise ; but d'lsjouvil in his prison was observing his spiders, and he, •with great difficulty and ingenuity, contrived to get

a letter conveyed to the general commanding the~ French" -army, assuring him in the most positive terms that a severe frost would set in within H days, and would continue for a sufficient time to enable the subjugation of Utrecht. The general having confidence in Isjouvil, who was known to him, delayed accepting the Dutch terms, and the frost set in as. predicted in 12 days, rendering the rivers and canals capable of bearing the heaviest artillery. Operations were reopened with such vigour that the French army entered Utrecht in triumph on Januarj 28, 1795. "And," as bis historian expresses it, " Quatremer d'lsjouvil, who had watched his spiders to such good purpose, , was, as a reward of his intelligence and ingenuity, released from his captivity." -Naturalist.