86 MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. 



which the skin of the animal had been put on. 

 4 The artist (said he) who has given that tender 

 little creature so thick a coating of fur, has shown 

 a wonderful degree of judgment and of skill ; for 

 so perfect is his handywork, that the stitches can 

 hardly he detected/ ' Eh ! how ! what say you ? 

 (exclaimed the lady). A false skin! stitches! 

 an artist applying fur! That brute, then, is no- 

 thing but a little bald monster, covered with a 

 hide not his own! How horribly have I been 

 cheated ! ' Then removing the hair, she imagined 

 she really discovered the seam in a line slightly 

 marked along the back ; which was, in fact, no- 

 thing else than the line where the hair separates 

 itself in opposite directions. The poor innocent 

 beast was shunned and execrated as an impostor, 

 and might have fallen into irretrievable disgrace 

 with its enraged mistress, had not Linnaeus added, 

 with a smile, * Calm yourself, madam ; the artist 

 that has sewed on the skin is Nature ; it is Provi- 

 dence who has given that tender and frail animal 

 a fleece that may enable it to brave the rigours of 

 our northern winters/ The lady perceived the jest ; 

 laughed, and took the dog again into favour." 



The only other anecdote we shall quote, refers to 

 his academical habits at an advanced period of 

 life. It is related by one of his pupils, Fabricius, 

 well known as a celebrated naturalist. " I had the 

 good fortune (says he) to enjoy the instructions 

 and the particular acquaintance of Linnaeus, from 



