BARON CUVIER. 49 



of the important revolutions which he either 

 completed, or for which he laid the foundation. 

 Notwithstanding the great endeavours made 

 in the earlier part of the seventeenth century 

 towards the progress of natural history, as a 

 science, there yet remained, when M. Cuvier 

 first entered the learned world, as much to 

 be done as had been effected since the revival 

 of letters. The perfect form in which plants 

 can be preserved with comparatively little 

 trouble, the small expense at which they can be 

 procured, and the narrow compass in which col- 

 lections can be contained, gave them great ad- 

 vantages over other branches of natural history. 

 Accordingly, we find that Botany had most 

 profited by the exertions of several illustrious 

 naturalists ; it had even assumed that grouping, 

 according to general organisation and structure, 

 which is called the natural system ; but Zoology, 

 from the greater difficulties which the study of 

 it presents, was, comparatively speaking, in a 

 much less advanced state. On looking back to 

 the history of this science from the beginning, 

 we shall see three great names, the possessors of 

 which caused the most important revolutions, 

 who gave fresh impulse towards its perfection, 

 and who have been the oracles of the civilised 



