152 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



denying them a soul and a memory, properly so 

 called, and making all their actions to spring from 

 external impressions. 



In a supplementary volume published in 1776, 

 Buffon added the history and figures of several new 

 animals, with valuable additions to most of those 

 described in the original work, together with a most 

 ingenious dissertation on mules. 



Disdaining the arrangements of systematic natural- 

 ists, Buff on has rejected all the received principles of 

 classification, and has thrown his subjects into groups. 

 Not content with deviating from established modes 

 of distribution, he ridicules the authors of systematic 

 arrangements, and particularly Linnaeus, whose zeal and 

 labours in investigating and classing natural objects 

 entitle him to the highest praise. 



It is hardly necessary to remark that Buffon 

 adapted his style to the particular subjects of his 

 discussion. Whilst the mere enumeration of facts, 

 or descriptions of the figure, dimensions, and colours 

 of animals, admit of no other ornament than that 

 of perspicuity, topics of philosophy and argument 

 require a higher and more figurative expression. Of 

 these different species of writing the works of Buffon 

 afford numerous examples. It has also been noted 

 that his style occasionally rises above the level of 

 his subject, and this is particularly the case when he 

 is painting in glowing colours the manners and 

 habits of the lion, the horse, the elephant, and 

 others of his favoivrite subjects. By the indulgence 

 of this passion for high painting, he has frequently 



