36 KAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



many valuable remarks. Many curious facts, although 

 possessed of less intrinsic value, were now added to 

 these important results. But since the discovery of 

 the method of descending to the bottom of the sea 

 had enabled us to collect an abundant supply of the 

 eggs of a great number of the Molluscs and Annelids, 

 Milne Edwards had devoted his attention almost 

 exclusively to the study of embryology. 



Facts that relate to the development of living 

 beings have at all times possessed extreme interest ; 

 and in our own day they have acquired an additional 

 importance. There can scarcely be a more attractive 

 spectacle presented to the true philosopher of nature 



that this naturalist has comprehended and shares the physiological 

 tendencies of our age. 



Few men have rendered more signal services to the Museum of 

 the Jardin des Plantes than M. Valenciennes. Independently of 

 his labours while assistant to Cuvier, he has arranged two collections 

 in the Museum, which were not represented before his time viz., 

 that of Intestinal Worms and that of existing Molluscs and he has 

 completely restored the collection of the Sponges, Echinoderms and 

 Polyparies, while he has thoroughly remodelled the collection of 

 Shells. Unfortunately the result of these very long and arduous 

 labours, in which he has been ably seconded by his assistant 

 M. Rousseau, can only be appreciated by those who have seen the 

 full extent of his work ; for, in consequence of want of space, the 

 greater part of these objects cannot be exhibited to the general 

 public. We ought to observe, however, that no one could be more 

 liberal than M. Valenciennes in throwing open these collections for 

 the inspection of those who are anxious to consult them for the 

 purposes of science. Thus, for instance, M. Valenciennes unre- 

 servedly placed them, together with his own valuable notes, at the free 

 disposal of MM. Milne Edwards and Jules Haime for their Histoire 

 des Polypiers, of MM. Blanchard and Dujardin for their researches 

 on the Intestinal Worms, and of M. Agassiz for his researches on 

 Echinodermata. 



