MEMOIR OF GEOFFKOY SAINT HILAIRE. 165 



ticed. Of one, the object was the classification of mammifers — and 

 here the skilfully-sustained idea of the suhordinaiion of characters^ 

 which was the great resource of Cuvier, predominates. The other 

 was the history of the niaJcis, or apes of Madagascar; and in this we 

 already discern traces of the imity of composition,* to which Geoffroy 

 has subjected all comparative anatomy. It was easy to foresee that 

 two intellects, whose philosophic processes were so different, would 

 not be long in finding separate paths. Meanwhile their confiding 

 friendship rendered them perfectly happy. In a science till then so 

 : little cultivated each result at which they arrived was new to all the 

 I world. How often have we heard both in after years recall with 

 i complacency that early and enchanted time when, in the words of 

 { one of them, (Cuvier,) "they never breakfasted without having first 

 1 made a discovery." The truth is, so little was then known of the 

 structure* of animals that it was almost impossible to make the dis- 

 section of one without perceiving some new organic details. 



It was in vain that the jealous friends of Geoffroy expostulated 

 that he was laying himself too open, and preparing for himself a de- 

 ' signing rival, perhaps a master. The effect which these represen- 

 tations produced on him has been recorded by Cuvier, in terms which 

 will enure to the lasting honor of Geoffroy. "They endeavored," 

 ' he says, "to make him believe that he ought not to befriend me, 

 ! that by and by I should have the sole credit of our labors; but this 

 I excellent young man declared to me, with entire earnestness of heart, 

 t that such advice made him unhappy, and that nothing would ever 

 I have the power to change his concluct towards me." 

 I The labors of GeoflYoy were conducting him at a rapid pace towards 

 I the Institute, Avhen, at the commencement of 1798, Berthollet came 

 I to say to him : " Come with Monge and me; we will be companions; 

 [ Bonaparte is to be our general." Whither were they going ? It was 

 ' what no one knew. In this very mystery there was one attraction 

 i the more for Geoffroy. He embarked, and his lucky star conducted 

 I him to Egypt. 



; From the moment of his arrival Geoffroy was seized Avith the de- 

 j sire of exploring everything. He rummages the soil, the tombs, the 

 ' ruins. He frequents the catacombs, those gloomy and antique mu- 

 ■ seums, where the Egyptians of old collected the remains of creatures 

 '. which were their cotemporaries, and laid them up, as it were, a deposit 

 ! for the study of after times. 



Geoffroy brought us from Egypt specimens of the crocodile and the 

 [ ibis, entire and perfectly preserved, skeletons of the ichneumon, the 

 i ox, &c. These animals, which lived two or three thousand years ago, 

 1 compared with those of to-day are found in no respect to differ from 

 ' them. Thus we owe to him the strongest proof that could be given 



• ;. *^" "It seems that nature has shut herself up within certain limits, and has formed all 



• living beings on one sole plan, essentially the same in principle, but varied in a thousand 

 ; ways in all the accessory parts. Thus, in each class of animals, the forms, however varied, 

 ', all result at bottom from organs common to all ; nature has forbidden herself the employ- 

 I ment of new ones." — Dissertation sur les Makis. — Magasin Encyclopedique, t. vii, p. 20, 1796. 



