THE COASTS OF SAINTOXGE. 253 



of the distant hum that betokens the vicinity of a 

 busy and crowded city, and soon the bright sun, the 

 songs of the birds and the calmness of the scene, 

 filled my heart with a sentiment of happiness and 

 profound peace, which after a time seemed even to 

 extend to my travelling companions, who certainly 

 were amongst the most stolid and sullen individuals 

 that I had ever encountered. 



I reached La Roche] le before night, and on the 

 following morning I hastened to pay my respects to 

 the elder M. d'Orbigny, one of the veterans of 

 marine zoology.* Like all men who have worked 

 hard themselves, M. d'Orbigny gives a hearty wel- 

 come to all those who follow in his own steps. On 

 the strength of my title of a naturalist I was re- 

 ceived as an old friend. I soon made the acquaint- 

 ance of several men devoted to the study of the 

 natural sciences, and in their company I visited the 

 Museum, in which they have made a most interesting 

 collection of the different productions belonging 

 to the three kingdoms of nature which are to be ob- 



* M. d'Orbigny, who originally practised as a physician at 

 Esnandes, and subsequently at La Rochelle, has devoted himself with 

 the greatest enthusiasm and perseverance to the study of natural 

 history. Not contented with collecting and describing a great 

 number of marine animals, he was one of the most active corre- 

 spondents of Cuvier, and it is to him that the town of La Rochelle 

 owes in a great measure the foundation of its provincial museum. 

 The four sons of M. d'Orbigny have all devoted themselves in 

 various ways to the study of their father's favourite science. M. 

 Alcide d'Orbigny has acquired a distinguished reputation by his 

 travels in South America, and by the important palaDontological 

 memoirs which have led to his nomination to the rank of jn 

 at the Jardin des PlaiiU-s. 



