40 THE NEW BIOLOGY 



PIEREE BELON 

 1517-1564 



^ 



Les observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses memorables trouv6es en 

 Grece, Asie, Judee, Egypte, Arable et autres pays estranges redig^es en trois 

 livres. 4to. Paris. 1553. 



L'Histoire naturelle des estranges poissons marins, avec la vraie peinture et 

 description du dauphin. 4to. Paris. 1551. 



De aquatilibus libri duo cum iconibus ad vivam eorum effigiem. Sm. oblong 

 8vo. Paris. 1553. Three editions of a French translation, in folio, quarto- 

 and octavo, appeared in 1555. One is entitled " La nature et diversit*^ des 

 Poissons, avec leurs pourtraicts, &c." Sm. obi. 8vo. 



L'Histoire de la nature des Oyseaux, avec leurs descriptions et naifs por- 

 traicts retirez du naturel. Fol. Paris. 1555. 



Some twenty years after the revival of botany 

 naturalists began to describe and figure direct from 

 the objects the fishes and birds of Europe. Zoological 

 research may have been a little retarded by the absence 

 of that professional motive which impelled physicians 

 to examine closely their native plants. The facilities 

 afforded by the markets, together with the special 

 knowledge handed down, generation after generation, 

 by fowlers, falconers and fishermen, had no doubt their 

 efiect in deciding what animals should first be taken in 

 hand. Belon tells us how, when dwelling in foreign 

 cities, he used to study the birds and fishes which were 

 brought to market. During his stay in Padua he was 

 accustomed to leave home every Thursday evening and 

 travel all night by boat, so as to reach Venice next 

 morning. There he stayed on Saturday and Sunday, 

 employing his time with observation of birds and fishes, 

 and discourse with fowlers and fishermen. On Sunday 

 night he took boat again, and was back at his studies 

 by Monday morning. Nothing is said about personal 

 observation of live birds and fishes, but this was not 

 neglected when opportunities ofiered. 



