BARON CUVIER. 6l 



hours of M. Ciivier, which, in fact, were the 

 preparations for all that followed, I think it best 

 to proceed to that on which he based the great 

 works of a later period, considering the Tableau 

 El^mentaire, and the two editions of the Regne 

 Animal, as different stages of the same work, 

 and, with the Fossil Remains, and Natural History 

 of Fishes, as the results of his discoveries in 

 comparative anatomy. The collection of M. 

 Cuvier's lectures on this subject is preceded by 

 an introductory letter, addressed to M. Mer- 

 trud, in which the author submits the plan of 

 his work, the necessity of such an undertaking, 

 acknowledges the assistance afforded to him, and. 

 states the care with which he has revised the 

 whole, previous to its publication. 



The first lecture is a sort of preliminary dis- 

 course, and bears the general name of Animal 

 Economy. It is, however, divided into five 

 heads, viz. Organic Functions, Structure of the 

 Organs, Differences of Organs, Affinities of 

 Organs, and Division of Animals. From this 

 first lecture I shall make a few extracts, which 

 may enable my readers to form some judgment 

 of the w^ork. 



After examining the nature of the principles 

 of life, the learned author establishes the general 



