Z TAXIDERMY, 



iution caused the disappearance of a great num- 

 ber of collections ; but this overthrow of the ge- 

 neral order of things, always so fatal to arts and 

 sciences, has, nevertheless, operated a favourable 

 change in the classification and arrangement of the 

 productions of nature. This improvement is due, 

 not only to the lights of new institutions, but also 

 to the devotion and zeal of scientific travellers. 



Amongst this number I may be permitted to 

 cite the unfortunate Mauge. His appointment of 

 assistant naturalist to the Museum, induced him to 

 labour for six years, with an activity which only be- 

 longs to those who have a true love for science ; 

 but this did not satisfy his zeal, he felt that he 

 could do more. In 1796, the Government sent 

 Captain Baudin to America, and Mauge was at- 

 tached to this expedition ; in one year he col- 

 lected more than four hundred birds for the Mu- 

 seum, a considerable quantity of insects, marine 

 and terrestrial shells , madrepores, sponges, gor- 

 gons, crustaceae, plants, minerals, &c. Nothing 

 was forgotten, and the seal of perfection was on 

 every thing that he touched. Even his manner of 

 packing, which is not unimportant to objects of 

 Natural History, was remarkable for the ingenious 

 precautions which he had taken. 



Two years afterwards, Mauge made part of ano- 

 ther expedition of discovery, composed of the 

 Corvettes, the Geographer, and the Naturalist, 



