THE RISE OF EMBRYOLOGY 215 



The observations for the first part began in 1819, after he 

 had received a copy of Pander's researches, and covered a 

 period of seven years of close devotion to the subject; and 

 the observations for the last part were carried on at intervals 

 for several years. 



It is significant of the character of his Reftexionen that, 

 although published before the announcement of the cell- 

 theory, and before the acceptance of the doctrine of organic 

 evolution, they have exerted a molding influence upon 

 embryology to the present time. The position of von Baer 

 in embryology is owing as much to his sagacity in specula- 

 tion as to his powers as an observer. "Never again have 

 observation and thought been so successfully combined in 

 embryological work " (Minot). 



Von Baer was born in 1792, and lived on to 1876, but his 

 enduring fame in embryology rests on work completed more 

 than forty years before the end of his useful life. After his 

 removal from Konigsberg to St. Petersburg, in 1834, he very 

 largely devoted himself to anthropology in its widest sense, 

 and thereby extended his scientific reputation into other 

 fields. 



If space permitted, it would be interesting to give the 

 biography* of this extraordinary man, but here it will be 

 necessary to content ourselves with an examination of his 

 portraits and a brief account of his work. 



Portraits. Several portraits of von Baer showing him 

 at different periods of his life have been published. A very 

 attractive one, taken in his early manhood, appeared in 

 Harper's Magazine for 1898. The expression of the face is 

 poetical, and the picture is interesting to compare with the 

 more matured, sage-like countenance forming the frontispiece 



* Besides biographical sketches by Stieda, Waldeyer, and others, we have 

 a very entertaining autobiography of Von Baer, published in 1864, for pri- 

 vate circulation, but afterward (1866) reprinted and placed on sale. 



