RISE OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY 151 



to nature, and through his great industry he became an in- 

 dependent observer. Here he laid the foundation of his ex- 

 tensive knowledge of comparative anatomy, and from this 

 quiet spot he sent forth his earliest scientific writings, which 

 served to carry his name to Paris, the great center of scien- 

 tific research in France. 



Goes to Paris. His removal from these provincial sur- 

 roundings was mainly owing to the warm support of Tessier, 

 who was spending the time of the reign of terror in retirement 

 in an adjacent village, under an assumed name. He and 

 Cuvier met in a scientific society, where the identity of Tessier 

 was discovered by Cuvier on account of his ease of speech 

 and his great familiarity with the topics discussed. A friend- 

 ship sprung up between them, and Tessier addressed some 

 of his scientific friends in Paris in the interest of Cuvier. 

 By this powerful introduction, and also through the inter- 

 vention of Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, he came to Paris in 1 795 

 and was welcomed into the group of working naturalists 

 at the Jardin des Plantes, little dreaming at the time that 

 he should be the leader of the group of men gathered around 

 this scientific institution. He was modest, and so uncertain 

 of his future that for a year he held to his post of instructor, 

 bringing his young charge with him to Paris. 



Notwithstanding the doubt which he entertained regard- 

 ing his abilities, his career proved successful from the begin- 

 ning. In Paris he entered upon a brilliant career, which was 

 a succession of triumphs. His unmistakable talent, com- 

 bined with industry and unusual opportunities, brought him 

 rapidly to the front. The large amount of material already 

 collected, and the stimulating companionship of other scien- 

 tific workers, afforded an environment in which he grew 

 rapidly. He responded to the stimulus, and developed not 

 only into a great naturalist, but expanded into a finished 

 gentleman of the w^orld. Circumstances shaped themselves 



