THE COASTS OF SICILY. 51 



do not the less exist, because they are inappreciable 

 to our senses, and it is from the want of duly recog- 

 nising this distinction, that men of high reputation 

 have suffered themselves, more especially in Ger- 

 many, to be led away by hazardous speculations, 

 giving rise to abstract theories, which, although 

 decorated with the name of the philosophy of nature, 

 have for many years retarded the true progress of 

 the natural sciences. 



Whilst these different labours occupied M. Milne 

 Edwards, his companions did not remain idle. 

 M. Blanchard had ably fulfilled the task that had 

 been entrusted to him by the directors of the Jardin 

 des Plantes. More than 2000 species of insects, 

 represented by at least 8000 individuals, were 

 collected in his cases. About 500 of these species 

 were wanting in the galleries of the museum, and 

 fully 300 were altogether new to science ; our 

 companion therefore had given active proofs of his 

 industry. But while he acquitted himself of the 

 duties imposed upon him in his capacity of assistant 

 naturalist and collector of specimens, M. Blanchard 

 had by no means neglected labours of a higher 

 order, and he might well look with pride and satis- 

 faction at his collection of drawings and notes. 

 Amongst other things, he had drawn up a highly 

 interesting memoir on the nervous system of the 

 Gasteropodous Molluscs; for, notwithstanding the 

 magnificent labours of Cuvier, much still remained 

 to be done in reference to these animals. Tfieir 

 nervous system especially was but little known. 

 Cuvier had only distinguished a very small number 



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