MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 37 



volumes, comprising a manual of nearly all that was 

 known at the time. There were a few errors in it, 

 many of which were from time to time corrected -, 

 and it yet continues a text-book for all those who 

 are engaged in similar pursuits. It is also the basis 

 of a great work, long in contemplation, whose com- 

 pletion an anxiety to render perfect retarded ; many 

 materials are left, partly arranged, with a very large 

 collection of drawings, which we trust will be pub- 

 lished at no very distant period. 



His next important work appeared in 1817; it 

 was the " Regne Animal distribue d'apres son Or- 

 ganization." It embraces the whole of M. Cuvier's 

 prior labours ; and, comprehending so much in a 

 space comparatively limited, it assumes somewhat 

 the character of an extended catalogue ; and he him- 

 self tells us, " is more for study than reading *." 

 The last edition, in five volumes, is now the best 

 and most comprehensive manual in our possession, 

 the researches of nearly thirty years are embodied 

 in it, and the experience of his extensive scientific ac- 

 quaintance lent their assistance to its completion. 

 He was anxious to establish general rules and prin- 

 ciples, for he found, that although many of his pre- 

 decessors had been employed in these researches, 

 and that Daubenton, Camper, and Pallas had sup- 

 plied some most important facts, they had neither 

 been generalised by themselves, nor made use of by 

 their contemporaries, to reduce the animal kingdom 

 Preface to the First Edition, p. 18. 



