AN INTELLIGENT PUPIL. 65 



some of the plates of his work, knew not at what 

 cost the originals had been procured. In the 

 slight sketch now about to be given of this most 

 enthusiastic zoologist, the reader will see an ex- 

 ample of almost unequalled devotedness and zeal. 



Frangois Peroii was born 22d August 1775, at 

 Perilly, a small town in the Bourbonnais. The 

 death of his father left him unprovided for, and 

 his relatives were desirous that he should be taught 

 some lucrative business. Already the boy had 

 shown intense love of books and study, and, dis- 

 consolate at the idea of being shut out from the 

 acquirement of information, he prevailed on his 

 mother to send him to the college of Cerilly, where 

 the principal, charmed with the intelligence of his 

 pupil, paid particular attention to his education, 

 and when his preliminary studies were finished 

 advised him to become an ecclesiastic, with which 

 intention he was placed under the care of the cure 

 of the town, who was to instruct him in philosophy 

 and theology. 



Just at this time the Eevolution broke out, and 

 young Peron, seduced by the exalted pictures of 

 patriotism he had read in ancient history, deter- 

 mined to take his share in the mighty conflict, and 

 to embrace the cause of Liberty. He accordingly 

 left his home at the close of 1792, and enrolled 

 himself in the battalion of L/Allier. He was but 



