MEMOIR 



ULYSSES ALDROVANDL 



AT the close of that long and dreary period so well 

 known under the characteristic appellation of the 

 dark ages, it was to be presumed that the Science of 

 Natural History would not be the last to ensure a 

 cordial and efficient entertainment, in that hap- 

 pier and brighter era which then dawned upon our 

 race. The high character of the great Stagyrite 

 and of the elder Pliny, and their numerous and im- 

 portant writings, embellished with literary attractions 

 of the highest order, all tended to enhance the in- 

 herent interest of that fascinating pursuit, which had 

 been to these great men the grand object of their 

 thoughts, of their adventurous travels, and of thei* 

 chequered lives. When to the interest thus confer- 

 red upon the subject, we add the numerous and 

 varied fields of investigation it embraced, and con- 



