348 Cuvier as a Naturalist, 



who does not possess more knowledge than Aristotle, — no pupil 

 of the Polytechnic School less knowing than Newton, — and per- 

 haps the vast science of Cuvier will one day be surpassed by 

 that of every student ; but Aristotle, Newton, and Cuvier, will 

 not, on that account, be less honoured in every age. 



These works on classification gradually became more perfect, 

 as new facts in anatomy came to his knowledge, and suggested 

 ta him new ideas ; and his incessant activity speedily enabled 

 him to lay them before the public. Scarcely four years had 

 elapsed since his nomination to the museum, when he commenced 

 the publication of his immortal Lectures on Comparative Ana- 

 tomy, — a measure become absolutely necessary for the direction 

 of the numerous pupils which the rising reputation of the pro- 

 fessor attracted to his course. 



In the first general work written on this subject,* which forms 

 an indispensable guide to all who study this extensive science, 

 M. Cuvier, instead of considering the anatomy of each animal 

 separately, examines in succession each organ in the whole series 

 of animals, taking accurate notice of the various modifications 

 and changes which they undergo, in order to deduce from them 

 the general theory of their functions. 



A circumstance which ought not to be separated from the 

 mention of this work, and what constitutes one of his fairest 

 titles to honour, is the formation of a cabinet of anatomy. Of 

 all that he taught in his lectures, he wished to supply demon- 

 strative proofs. For this purpose he cellected the preparations 

 of Daubenton, and those belonging to the old academy of 

 sciences which he found much mutilated and in disorder. These 

 he rapidly augmented by his own incessant labour, and by giv- 

 ing a proper direction to the exertions of his assistants, till he 

 succeeded in establishing this collection, which still remains the 

 richest in Europe, in spite of the efforts which some other nations 

 have made to equal it. In it not only were his own pupils 

 formed, but rivals from other countries came to derive informa- 

 tion from the matchless preparations, many of which were made 

 by his own hands. 



It would be equally impossible to indicate here the portions 

 of the work on anatomy which belong exclusively to M. Cuvier. 

 * Published in 5 vols. 8vo, 1000-5. 



