Forskal Peter

Forskal Peter, a Swedish naturalist, was born at Smaland in 1736, and was educated at Gottingen. He devoted his life to natural science, traveled extensively, and died on an Eastern tour at Djerim, in Yemen, July 11, 1763. His name is mentioned here on account of his Descriptiones Animalium, ovium, amphibiorum, etc., quae in itinere orientali observavit P. Forsksid, published after his death (Copenh. 1775, 4to); Flora Egyptiaco-Arabica sive descriptiones plantarum, etc. (ed. C. Niebuhr (Copenhagen, 1775, 4to); and Icones rerum naturalium, etc. (Copenhagen, 1776, 4to), which are of value for the natural history of Scripture. Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 18:198.