REAUMUR. 191 



Certain varieties of these as well as wasps are 

 described in the last volume. Similar researches 

 were made by Bonnet and De Geer, of whom we 

 shall have occasion to speak in another part of our 

 series. 



Reaumur was the first naturalist who formed 

 an extensive collection of animals in France. The 

 celebrated Brisson^ who was the keeper of his mu- 

 seum, derived from it the principal materials for 

 his works on quadrupeds and birds. These last af- 

 terwards constituted the basis of the Royal ]\Iuseum 

 at Paris. 



When the first volumes of Buffon made their ap- 

 pearance, the elegance of their style had a prejudi- 

 cial effect on the popularity of Reaumur's writings ; 

 and as naturalists, like poets and artists, generally 

 belong to the irritahile genus, — the sensitive class 

 of mankind, — our author seems to have experienced 

 considerable chagrin. In other respects, however, 

 he lived a very quiet life ; residing sometimes on his 

 estate in Saintonge, and sometimes at his country- 

 house of Bercy, in the neighbourhood of Paris. He 

 had no public employment, except that of intendant 

 of the order of St Louis, of which he performed the 

 duties for the benefit of a relative whom circum- 

 stances prevented from discharging them, and to 

 whom he resigned the emoluments. He died on 

 the 18th October 1757, at the age of 74; his death 

 being accelerated by a fall which he had received 

 at the castle of Bermondiere, whither he had gone 

 to pass the vacations. He seems to have been in 

 all respects an amiable man, of correct habits and 

 great mildness of disposition. His life, therefore, 

 presents none of those bickerings and other mani- 



