RISE OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY 149 



the idea of making a comprehensive study of the structure of 

 the animal kingdom. It was fortunate that he began his 

 investigations with thorough work upon the invertebrated 

 animals; for from this view-point there was gradually un- 

 folded to his great mind the plan of organization of the entire 

 series of animals. Not only is a knowledge of the structure 

 of the simplest animals an essential in understanding that of 

 the more modified ones, but the more delicate work required 

 in dissecting them gives invaluable training for anatomizing 

 those of more complex construction. The value attached to 

 this part of his training by Cuvier is illustrated by the advice 

 that he gave to a young medical student who brought to his 

 attention a supposed discovery in anatomy. " Are you an 

 entomologist ? " inquired Cuvier. " No," said the young man. 

 "Then," replied Cuvier, " go first and anatomize an insect, 

 and return to me; and if you still believe that your observa- 

 tions are discoveries I will then believe you." 



Birth and Early Education. — Cuvier was born in 1769, 

 at Montbeliard, a village at that time belonging to Wiirttem- 

 berg, but now a part of the French Jura. His father was a 

 retired military officer of the Swiss army, and the family, 

 being Protestants, had moved to Montbeliard for freedom 

 from religious persecution. Cuvier was christened Leopold- 

 Christian-Frederic-Dagobert Cuvier, but early in youth took 

 the name of Georges at the wish of his mother, who had lost 

 an infant son by that name. 



He gave an early promise of intellectual leadership, and 

 his mother, although not well educated, took the greatest 

 pains in seeing that he formed habits of industry and con- 

 tinuous work, hearing him recite his lessons in Latin and 

 other branches, although she did not possess a knowledge of 

 Latin. He early showed a leaning toward natural history; 

 having access to the works of Gesner and Buff on, he profited 

 by reading these two writers. So great was his interest that 



