150 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



a solitary walk, and during the rest of the evening 

 he either conversed with his family or his guests, 

 or sat at his desk examining papers which were 

 submitted to his judgment. At nine o'clock he 

 went to bed. In 1762, when fifty- five years of 

 age, Buffon married a lady who was in every way 

 suited to him, and who, moreover, took a deep 

 interest in his studies. He was greatly attached to 

 her, and her companionship made the country life 

 all the more pleasant. Four years afterwards 

 Louis XIV . ennobled Buffon and invited him to 

 Fontairiebleau to offer him the post of Adminis- 

 trator of the Forests of France, but Buffon declined 

 the office. This great man was not above a little 

 vanity : he liked to read the most interesting parts 

 of his works to his friends, and to draw forth their 

 admiration. He was, moreover, fond of dress and 

 grandeur, but that was part of the society of his day. 

 He had a fine countenance and figure, and it was his 

 delight to display them to the best advantage. He 

 dressed in the extreme of fashion, and amidst his 

 studies found time to submit his head (perhaps it was 

 only his wig) to the hairdresser, two or three times 

 a day. On Sundays the peasantry of Montbard 

 assembled to gaze at the Count after the service of 

 the church, when he passed through their ranks mag- 

 nificently dressed, with his son and his retainers. 



The natural history was translated into English, 

 German, Italian, Spanish, and Dutch, and its 

 charming pages brought a knowledge of nature to 

 many a home. Like most naturalists of eminence, 



