BARON CUVIER. 309 



cycloids, among fishes. In the same manner Cuvier 

 subdivided the articulates, the mollusks, and the radi- 

 ates ; and his tables, with some modifications, are 

 now to be found in every school-room in Europe and 

 America. 



Microscopic animalcules and vegetable germs 

 which abound in fluids, and are too minute for classi- 

 fication, were called zoophytes. Cuvier intended to 

 have these investigated and brought within the rules 

 applicable in the arrangement of the higher animals, 

 but he made little progress with the work. 



During the first year of his Parisian life, he was 

 appointed assistant to the curator of comparative an- 

 atomy in the Jardin des Plantes; and upon the basis 

 of five old skeletons he commenced the collection and 

 scientific arrangement of one of the most extensive 

 cabinets of zoological specimens in the world. The 

 opportunities here enjoyed led him to commence a 

 work on Anatomic Compares., and also one on Regne 

 Animal, which were only finished in the course of 

 years. Napoleon, appreciating the brilliant talents of 

 Cuvier, took pleasure in appointing him one of the 

 Inspector Generals for establishing lyceums in thirty 

 towns of France. Cuvier was instrumental in found- 

 ing three of the most famous, which are now the uni- 

 versities of Marseilles, Nice and Bordeaux. 



Cuvier afterward held other appointments under 

 the government, some of which he filled during stir- 

 ring periods of the French Revolution. His views 

 were so moderate and conciliatory that the successful 

 or succeeding ruler did not disturb the popular scien- 

 tist. Although a man of pronounced opinions, and 

 sometimes an active partisan in political movements, 

 and a staunch Protestant, when parties in power were 



