THE ARCHIPELAGO OF CHAUSEY. 51 



species. But even in this respect I was favoured 

 beyond my expectations, for I discovered entirely 

 new types or species belonging to genera hitherto 

 unknown in our seas, and whose organisation it had 

 therefore been impossible to study. 



The human mind is so constituted that it appears 

 to abhor all that is easy of acquisition. We see this 

 exemplified both in the arts and sciences. Thus, 

 whenever a new problem is started, you will have 

 twenty solutions before you meet with the simplest 

 explanation. 



Naturalists seem carefully to obey this law of our 

 nature. The Desman of Siberia was known more 

 than half a century before that of the Pyrenees *, 

 and whilst naturalists have cast their dredge into 

 the waters of the seas which wash the Moluccas, 

 Philippines and Antilles, we scarcely know anything 

 of the marine productions of the Channel, the Bay of 

 Biscay, or the Gulf of Lyons. Yet new species are 

 to be found within a few leagues of us, and there is 

 scarcely a naturalist who has gone to spend a few 

 days on our sea coasts without having had the grati- 

 fication of making some such discovery. 



Let me speak to you for a moment or two of one 



* The genus Desman (Mygale}, includes only two living species, 

 one of which was discovered in Siberia by Pallas, whilst the other 

 was found in France at a much later period. It would appear that 

 this latter species is limited to the small rivers that flow from the 

 Pyrenees. The Desman is a small insectivorous mammal, exhaling 

 a powerful odour of musk, which is produced by a special liquid 

 secreted by the glands which are situated near the base of the tail. 

 M. Lartct has discovered the remains of fossil Desmans in the rich 

 osseous deposits of Sansan. 



E 2 



