The Natural History of Ants

Description:

1st edition. Translated from the French, with additional notes by J.R. Johnson. Pierre Huber (1777-1840) was a Swiss entomologist, son of entomologist, François Huber (1750-1831). Their work on insects was highly praised by Darwin in his 'On the Origin of Species'. The present book was first published in France in 1810 under the title ‘Recherches sur les mours des Fourmis indigènes’. Pierre Huber made numerous ethological observations; for instance, he observed the relationships between aphids and ants. His most famous contribution is the discovery of slave-making ants. An entire chapter of ‘On the Origin of Species’ is devoted to instincts, and one of his main references is the work of Huber: ‘This remarkable [slave-making] instinct was first discovered in the Formica (Polyerges) rufescens by Pierre Huber, a better observer even than his celebrated father.’ (J.-M. Droui, 'Ants and Bees, between the French and the Darwinian Revolution') .

Freeman, 1804.

Condition

12mo, cont. half calf, some wear, scuffing and rubbing; marbled boards; front hinge cracked but firm; some foxing and spotting to plates and occasionally in text.