BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BARON CUVIER. 



(Read before the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Sept., 1877.) 



The study of zoology as a department of human 

 knowledge was well begun by Aristotle ; and if it had 

 not been weighed down with ludicrous fables, it might 

 have attained a substantial foundation in the Grecian 

 schools. There is no evidence that Rome, during her 

 rise, culmination, and decline, embraced an individual, 

 except Pliny, who could claim to possess a smattering 

 of zoological knowledge. The Greek and Roman 

 churches forbade investigations of a scientific nature, 

 and prohibited all dissections. For nearly fifteen 

 centuries after the overthrow of the Roman empire, 

 the best of Europe was in a state of semi-barbarism. 

 Geometricians, mathematicians, and astronomers made 

 some progress, yet under threats, difficulties, and dan- 

 gers. . Without civil liberty and religious tolerance 

 how can progress be made in scientific pursuits ? 

 Egypt and India entertained transcendental notions 

 regarding metempsychosis, yet such absurdities were 

 scientific hindrances. 



During the latter part of the last century John 

 Hunter, by his indefatigable industry, collected a mass 

 of facts to be used in establishing a system of zoology, 

 but the great collector died before his scientific plans 

 had taken shape. Oken, Lamarck, and Linnaeus had 

 done considerable toward the same grand object ; and 

 Goethe, Geifroy St. Hilaire, Blumenbach, and others 

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