102 LYONNETS KIND-iiKARTEDNESS.

la chenille du Saule,” Lyonnct exhibited such
tender sensibility as does him honour. In truth,
while we admire his dexterity and marvel at his
patience, we love him for his kindheartedness.
He takes pains to assure his readers that it was
necessary to sacrifice but a very small number of
these insects to effect his observations; and he adds,
that to prevent their suffering he put them into
spirits of wine before opening them. One cannot
but call to remembrance the exclamation of the
poct,

 

‘*T would not number in my list of friends,
Though graced with polished manners and fine sense,
Yet wanting sensibility, the man
That needlessly sets foot upon a worm.”

Little more is known of Lyonnet except that he

died in January 1789, at the advanced age of
eighty-two. Apparently he had never been married.