22 MEMOIR OF 



some influence in increasing his own very decided 

 predilections for the pursuits of Natural History. 

 Upon his return home, he engaged in the study of 

 Botany, and afterwards went to Pisa, to obtain the 

 valuable assistance of Professor Ghini. 



Having taken his degree in Physic at the uni- 

 versity of Bologna in 1553, he was in the following 

 year appointed to the Chairs of Philosophy and 

 Logic, and also to the lectureship on Botany.* It 

 is also stated, that he now became occupied with 

 the laborious professional duties of the healing art ; 

 and Bullart affirms, that he likewise taught Physic 

 within the walls of the university. Thus, then, we 

 find Aldrovandi settled down at the age, according 

 to our reckoning, of thirty-two, in the honourable 

 character of medical practitioner in his native city, 

 and also in the not less responsible and still more dis- 

 tinguished capacity of professor of several branches 

 of science in its celebrated university. 



But in addition to the chairs thus said to have 

 been filled by him, not all at one time probably, but 

 in succession, we have now to mention a fact which 

 does not appear to be stated in any of the modern 

 biographies, although established on the most satis- 

 factory authority, viz., that, about the time under re- 

 view, he was also elected Professor of Natural His- 

 tory. It may be true, indeed, that this situation was 

 included in the first appointment he received, viz., 

 the Chair of Philosophy; and this might the more 



* Ree, u. s. 



