196 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 
molluscs. <...... ‘(Mivde Lamarck has “established 
with as much care as sagacity the genera of shells.” 
Again he says, in noticing the three first volumes: 
“The great detail into which M. de Lamarck has 
entered, the new species he has described, renders his 
work very valuable to naturalists, and renders most 
desirable its prompt continuation, especially from the 
knowledge we have of means which this experienced 
professor possesses to carry to a high degree of per- 
fection the enumeration which he will give us of the 
shells” (Huvres completes de Buffon, 1828, t. 31, p. 354). 
“His excellences,” says Cleland, speaking of La- 
marck as a scientific observer, ‘‘ were width of scope, 
fertility of ideas, and a preéminent faculty of precise 
description, arising not only from a singularly terse 
style, but from a clear insight into both the dis- 
tinctive features and the resemblance of forms” 
(Encyc. Britannica, Art. LAMARCK). 
The work, moreover, is remarkable for being the 
first one to begin with the simplest and to end with 
the most highly developed forms. 
Lamarck’s special line of study was the Mollusca. 
How his work is still regarded by malacologists is 
shown by the following letter from our leading 
student of molluscs, Dr. W. H. Dall: 
‘* SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
‘“UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 
WASHINGTON, D. C., 
‘* November 4, 1899. 
“Lamarck was one of the best naturalists of his 
time, when geniuses abounded. His work was the 
first well-marked step toward a natural system as 
opposed to the formalities of Linné. He owed some- 
