358 SOCIETY OF PHYSICS AND NATURAL HISTORY, OF GENEVxi. 



was the last labor of his life. There is, however, still auother exten- 

 sive work by him, not yet printed, which will appear, treating of the 

 history of these animals. 



Besides his stndy of marine animals, Claparede made at Geneva very- 

 varied researches on other subjects. He published memoirs upon bin- 

 ocular vision, and numerous works upon the embryology of the Arthr- 

 opodes. In 18G0 the Society of the Sciences, of Utrecht, awarded him 

 a gold medal for his beautiful investigations relative to the evolution 

 of the Aran<Sides, which were followed by his studies' upon different 

 crustaceous and acarious animals, which include many new facts, and 

 which are all important works in the i^rogress of science. In fact, 

 Claparede, always noted* for the correctness of his eye, ended by 

 becoming an authority of the first order in all questions to be deci- 

 ded by the microscope, and in this respect he exercised throughout the 

 entire world a well-merited authority. His eminent genius for obser- 

 vation, the clearness of his judgment, which comprehended all diiS- 

 culties, naturally led Claparede to the study of Darwinism, of which he 

 became a decided defender, and in relation to which he published sev- 

 eral remarkable articles. 



In reading the numerous and important works of Clapavede, no one 

 would imagine the sad condition of his health. AfiHicted with serious 

 organic maladies, his life was one long martyrdom. A violent disease ©f 

 the heart had, from his earliest youth, caused great disturbance through 

 the whole of his organism ; all exercise of any importance was inter- 

 dicted ; frequent hsemoptysies brought him several times to the verge 

 of the grave; suffering of various kinds rendered him incapable of 

 work during long periods, and we can hardly comprehend how, even in 

 Ms best moments, he could devote himself to active research. His life 

 was sustained by a force of energy in his latter years, and by extreme 

 measures which uo i)hysician would have dared to advise. This condi- 

 tion of health did not cease to be a cause of anxiety and sadness to his 

 friends. It prevented him from undertaking works of great length, and 

 we can judge by what he has accomplished, notwithstanding so many 

 difficulties, how much he might have done if he had been blessed with 

 good or even moderate health. 



The necessity for a warm climate, as much as his passion for the sea- 

 shore, induced Claparede, in 1866, to pass the winter at Naples. This 

 sojourn agreed with him perfectly; he devoted himself to his immens6 

 researches upon the Annelides, which fills the twentieth volume of our 

 memoirs. This induced him, two years after, to spend a second winter 

 in Naples, but the serious illness of his wife made work almost impossi- 

 ble; the assiduous care which he lavished upon the companion of his 

 life weakened him, and he became himself extremely ill. Nevertheless, 

 he desired, in 1870, to again attempt a sojourn at Naples, but far from 

 experiencing any relief he was more indisposed than ever. A hydrop- 

 sy, which slowly ascended toward the vital jorgans, left him no hope- 



