196 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



enjoy the political and other caricatures in the 

 shops, and loved to go down to such places as 

 Richmond to see the scenery. 



After a six weeks' visit, Cuvier returned to Paris, 

 and occupied his former positions and dignities. 



Cuvier was slightly built in his young days, and 

 moderately tall ; but the sedentary nature of his 

 work and his carelessness about taking proper 

 exercise, produced corpulence in his later years, 

 and his extreme near-sightedness brought on a 

 slight stoop in his shoulders. His hair had been 

 light in colour, and to the last it flowed in fine 

 curls over one of the noblest heads ever seen. He 

 was handsome and had regular features, with an 

 aquiline nose, a broad forehead, and keen eyes. 

 The love of order, which was his very peculiarity in 

 his work, was seen in little things, for Cuvier was 

 almost feminine in his attention to dress. He 

 even took in hand the costume of the University, 

 and designed the embroidery of his court suits. 

 Cuvier's manners were dignified and yet not cere- 

 monious ; for accustomed to mingle with the highest 

 of all classes and countries, and naturally desirous 

 of paying a just tribute of respect and good will to 

 everybody, he was likely to be generally polished 

 and courteous. He was stately enough sometimes, 

 and his reserve with strangers who were not open 

 with him was mainly — as is usually the case with 

 others — from mere shyness and timidity. To the 

 young he was always kind and sympathizing. 

 When at the Institute Cuvier's manner was always 



