12 M. Flourens's Historical Eloge on 



so useful for advanced classes, is evidently but little suit- 

 able to the inferior ones. It is necessary, therefore, after 

 more than a century of gropings and experiments, to return 

 to the suggestion of Rollin, who wished to have two Natural 

 histories, one for the upper classes, and another for the lower. 

 In a word, we require to proportion the studies to the ages of 

 the learners. But the art of proportioning is that of gradu- 

 ating and subordinating ; and this graduation and subordina- 

 tion of studies is perhaps all that is at present necessary as it 

 respects the teaching of the natural sciences, and the only 

 means, at all events, by which we can banish those two vices 

 inseparable from every system which is not accurately ar- 

 ranged, I mean many repetitions and many voids. 



I have thus traced the labours of M. F. Cuvier, and these 

 labours have made us acquainted with his whole life. Never, 

 in fact, could it be said with greater truth of any one, that 

 the life of a scientific man consists of his reflections and his 

 works. Appointed in 1804 the Keeper of the Menagerie of 

 the Museum, he spent thirty-four years in this peaceable re- 

 treat, where he found those two circumstances without which 

 there is no profound labour — time and meditation. It was 

 here that he prepared, without noise or parade, but also with- 

 out distraction or relaxation, the basis of that study of the 

 faculties and actions of animals which, previous to his time, 

 was scarcely regarded as a portion of natural history, and out 

 of which he has formed a distinct and profound science, a 

 science which, subjecting to experiment questions which had 

 hitherto been reputed purely philosophical, has really extended 

 the domains of observation. 



M. F. Cuvier exhibited in society an easy temper, great tact 

 in the intercourse of life, a rare kindness, and a benevolence 

 which seemed to flow from sympathy, and which inspired it. 

 His disposition, at once gentle and energetic, his elevated 

 character, and his upright heart, have left indelible recollec- 

 tions in all those who were acquainted with him. His friends, 

 whom I regret I cannot mention here, mourn for him now as 

 acutely as the day when they lost him. His modesty espe- 

 cially had a peculiar charm. It was so natural that it ap- 

 peared as if his merit was unknown to himself. It will readily 



