120 TAXIDERMY. 



4thly, An indication of the objects which are 

 most particularly desired. 



ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



THE study of zoology in the Museum of Natural 

 History, does not limit itself to the observation of 

 the forms of animals, and a description of their 

 organs ; it also embraces the examination of their 

 habits, their developement, their sagacity; and seeks 

 if they can be of any utility. Formerly, we could 

 only inform ourselves on these essential points by 

 the relations of travellers. The establishments 

 formed at a great expense by princes, and rich 

 amateurs, for assembling and taking care of rare 

 animals, were rather objects of luxury or curiosity, 

 than of study. But, since a menagerie has been 

 added to the Museum at Paris, a new career of 

 observations has been opened to naturalists. It is 

 there that we can follow animals in all their stages, 

 and compare their manner of life, with the or- 

 ganization which anatomy discloses after their death; 

 we require positive knowledge on the important 

 phenomena of copulation, gestation, and birth ; we 

 learn to distinguish the varieties which proceed 

 from age, from those which are produced by cli- 

 mate, nourishment, or mixture of races, and to 

 determine with certainty the differences which really 

 exist between the species. If these animals are of 



