LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. xlvii 
ever brought together, and of living specimens in the Menagerie 
of Reptiles, but the scientific world at large owes the production 
of the great work on Herpetology, the ‘ General History of Reptilia,’ 
which, at first in conjunction with his friend and pupil the late 
lamented M. Bibron, was in progress for a period of twenty years. 
The scientific labours of M. Duméril, continued through an al- 
most unparalleled length of years with unabated vigour and success, 
have crowned his name with universal fame, and his deserts have 
been acknowledged in the various honours bestowed upon him. 
In 1816 he was chosen a member of the Academy of Sciences (Sec- 
tion of Anatomy) in place of M. Tenon, and received the decora- 
tion of the Legion of Honour in 1837, in which illustrious Corps 
he was raised to the rank of Commander a short time before his 
death. His honoured name was added to the list of our Foreign 
Members in 1854. 
In his zoological works he displayed great descriptive and 
analytic powers, delighting in precise and lucid definitions, and in 
attention to systematic classification. At the same time, however, 
like Buffon and Pallas, Reaumur and De Geer, and many others of 
the most illustrious zoologists, he devoted much time to the 
study of the habits of animals, the record of which adds so much 
not only to the scientific value, but to the popularity and interest of 
zoological works. The subjoined list of M. Duméril’s principal works, 
though I fear very imperfect, will still serve, better than anything 
else, to show how his valuable labours were continued and varied 
during a longer life than falls to the lot of most, and continued 
moreover, it may be said, with increasing value and importance to 
the last. His first work left the press in 1797, when he was but 
23; and his last, a quarto of 1336 pages, appeared almost simul- 
taneously with his decease at the patriarchal age of 86. 
Few can show such a career of usefulness, and of no one can it 
be more truly said that in its course he never made an enemy. 
Distinguished as M. Duméril was in science, in moral worth he was 
equally eminent. Devoted in friendship, amiable towards his col- 
leagues, paternal towards his pupils, benevolent towards all men, 
void of jealousy or envy towards rivals,—his praise was always 
ready where it could be bestowed, and his encouragement wherever 
it was needed. 
The following are the principal works for which science is in- 
debted to M. Duméril :— 
1. Dissertation sur l’Organe de 1’ Odorat, et sur son existence. 
dans les Insectes. 1797. 
