APPENDIX. 327 



the King of Wurtemburg ; Pfaff, Councillor of State in 

 Denmark ; and Hartmann, the distinguished entomologist 

 and physician. The society met weekly to read and 

 discuss memoirs, and the author of the best work was de- 

 corated with an order, the design of which was due to the 

 same band which afterwards traced the model for our 

 academic prizes. It is a remarkable fact that neither 

 human nor comparative anatomy formed a part of these 

 scientific recreations. Up to that time, Cuvier still 

 belonged to the age in which he lived, and limited him- 

 self to descriptive zoology. 



As soon as his studies were completed, Cuvier found 

 it necessary to turn his knowledge to account. The 

 Count d'Hericy, proprietor of the Castle of Fiquainville 

 in Normandy, required a tutor for his children, and 

 Cuvier accepted the office. This change of residence 

 proved a most fortunate circumstance ; for hitherto he 

 had devoted himself more especially to botany and ento- 

 mology, and even during the early period of his sojourn 

 in Normandy he was engaged in the serious study of 

 insects, and sent to his friends at Stutgard a general 

 classification of this group, together with memoirs on 

 several genera. Soon, however, the nature of his occu- 

 pations was changed, and the scope of his ideas enlarged. 

 The ocean lay at his very feet, and Cuvier could not 

 long remain insensible to the new paths of inquiry which 

 were thus opened to him. He saw that an unknown 

 world was displayed before him, and he resolutely 

 applied himself to his new labours. We find from his 

 correspondence, that this period was occupied by his 

 researches on the Molluscs, one of the earliest of the 

 works which made him known, and which even at the 

 present day constitutes one of his principal titles to fame. 

 We may also see with what a keen appreciation and nice 

 discrimination he was already able to judge the greatest 



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