the other. His'figure was majestic, in the attitude of deep contemplation. 

 So like the life did he seem, that his family would not believe the melan- 

 choly fact; but the illustrious patient was no more.'" 



To Mrs. Bowditch, an intimate acquaintance of the Baron and of his 

 family, we are indebted for the following details respecting the person and 

 habits of this illustrious man. 



" In person M. Cuvier was moderately tall, and in youth slight; but the 

 sedentary nature of his life had induced corpulence in his alter years, and 

 his extrenae near-sightedness brought on a slight stoop in the shoulders. 

 His hair had been light in colour, and to the last flowed in the most pic- 

 turesque curls, over one of the finest heads that ever was seen. The im- 

 mense portion of brain in that head was remarked by Messrs. Gall and 

 Spurzheim, as beyond all that they had ever beheld; an opinion which 

 was confirmed after death. His features were remarkably regular and 

 handsome, the nose aquiline, the mouth full of benevolence, the forehead 

 most ample ; but it is impossible for any description to do justice to his 

 eyes. They at once combined intellect, vivacity, archness, and sweetness ; 

 and long before we lost him, I used to watch their elevated expression 

 with a sort of fearfulness, for it did not belong to this world. There are 

 many portraits published of M. Cuvier, formed of various materials ; but, 

 with the exception of the medallion of M. Bovy, the copper medal, the 

 plaster bust, the lithographic print by M. le Meunier, and the oil paint- 

 ing by Mr. Pickersgill, they scarcely convey any just idea of M. Cuvier's 

 expression: in fact, some of the prints are positive caricatures." 



We may add, that it afi'orded Cuvier singular satisfaction in his dying 

 hours, to reflect that the great work on which his heart was entirely 

 bent — that performance on which he most desired to rest his claims to the 

 respect of posterity — his Ichthyology, was in part before the public, and 

 that the remainder would come forth under a superintendance in the 

 value of which he entertained unbounded confidence. 



