BARON CUVIER. 13 



talents l^ecome the medium of tratlic for the acquirement of 

 sordid possessions."* 



Whilst with the family of the Count d'Hericy, M. Cuvier 

 saw all the nobihty of the surrounding- country ; he acquired 

 the forms and manners of the best society, and became ac- 

 quainted with some of the most remarkable men of his 

 time. Nor was his favourite study followed with less ardour 

 in consequence of finding himself surrounded by new friends 

 and new duties. A long sojourn on the borders of the sea 

 first induced him to study marine animals, but, without 

 books, and in complete retirement, he confined himself to 

 the objects more immediately within his reach. It was at 

 this period also, (June, 1791, to 1794,) that some Terebra- 

 tulse having been dug up near Fecamp, the thought struck 

 him of comparing fossil with recent species ;t and the cas- 

 ual dissection of a Calmart led him to study the anatomy 

 of Mollusca, which afterw^ards conducted him to the deve- 

 lopement of his great views on the whole of the animal 

 kingdom. It was thus, from an obscure corner of Norman- 

 dy, that that voice was first heard, which, in a comparatively 

 short space of time, filled the whole of the civihzed world 

 with admiration, — which was to lay before mankind so ma- 

 ny of the hidden wonders of creation, — wdiich was to dis- 

 cover to us the relics of former ages, to change the entire 

 face of natural history, to regulate and amass the treasures 

 already acquired, and those made known during his life ; 

 and then to leave science on the threshold of a new epocha. 

 The class called Vermes by Linna3us, included all the infe- 

 rior animals, and was left by him in a state of the greatest 

 confusion. It was by these, the lowest beings in creation, 

 that the young naturalist first distinguished himself: he ex- 

 amined their organization, classed them into different groups, 

 and arranged them according to their natural affinities. 

 He committed his observations and thoughts to paper, and, 



* The Baron D. H, 



t The idea of making fossil remains subservient to geology was not due 

 to M. Cuvier alone, for several others seem to have entertained the same 

 views ; but his pre-eminence consisted in making use of this idea, and car- 

 rying it to an extent far beyond the calculations of his predecessors or 

 contemporaries. 



t A species of Cuttle fish. 



B 



