Xlviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



quadrupeds, and first appeared in the character of a writer in 

 a ' Catalogue Systematique du Cabinet d'Ornithologie et de la 

 Collection de Quadrumanes de C. J. Temminck ; avec une courte 

 description des Oiseaux non-decrits.' His next appearance in 

 print was as the author of the text of the first volume of the 

 splendid work of Madame Knip, ' Histoire Naturelle des Pigeons,' 

 Paris, 1808, which was followed by his ' Histoire Naturelle Ge- 

 Berale des Pigeons et Gallinaces,' Paris, 1813-15, three vols. 8vo. 

 These works established his reputation as one of the most accu- 

 rate and laborious of systematic ornithologists, and recommended 

 him to the notice of the then existing government. King Louis 

 appointed him one of his Chamberlains, and decorated him with 

 the Order of Union, which he had just established. After the 

 expulsion of the French, when the peace of Europe was again 

 threatened, he became for a short time Captain of a volunteer 

 corps of cavalry formed in Amsterdam ; but these distractions 

 withdrew him only for a short time from his favourite pursuits. 

 In 1815 he published, in one vol. 8vo, his 'Manuel d'Ornitho- 

 logie, ou Tableau Systematique des Oiseaux qui se trouvent en 

 Europe,' which was afterwards expanded into four vols. 8vo, Paris, 

 1835-40, and was illustrated by an atlas by Werner, containing 

 figures of nearly all the birds described. In this, which must be 

 regarded as one of his most important works, he attempted to 

 establish a system differing in many respects from those which 

 had preceded ; but the accuracy of the descriptions, the extent 

 and careful elaboration of the synonymy, the detailed observa- 

 tions on the habits and change of plumage of the birds, and the 

 attention paid to their geographical distribution especially di- 

 stinguish this Manual as a most valuable contribution to Orni- 

 thological Science. His next great work, for which he had long 

 been preparing, was commenced in 1820, and completed in 1844, 

 under the title of ' Nouveau E/Ocueil de Planches Coloriees d' Oi- 

 seaux,' intended as a supplement to the ' Planches Enluminees ' 

 of Buftbn, and containing 600 splendid folio plates. The name of 

 Baron Meiffren-Laugier is associated with his on the title ; but it 

 is well known that the Baron had no share in the scientific elabo- 

 ration of the work. In the same year in which he commenced 

 this great work, he was named, on the death of Brugman, Director 

 of the Natural History Museum at Leyden, to which he transferred 

 his own extensive collection, and which, under his superintendence, 

 became in a few years equal in many respects, and in some supe- 

 rior, to the principal Museums in other states of Europe. The 



