84 MEMOIRS OF 



comprehension, at the first glance, measured the 

 extent of the science, appreciated its import- 

 ance, and foresaw the light it would shed over 

 the formation of our planet. Already, in 1796, 

 he read a Memoir, at the Institute, which con- 

 tained his suspicions, that no species of those 

 fossil remains, so abundant in the northern parts 

 of the world, belonged to animals now existing. 

 He even then thouglit that they had formed 

 beings which had been destroyed by some revo- 

 lution of the globe, now replaced by others, 

 perhaps equally to be destroyed. With a view 

 of ascertaining the truth of these suppositions, 

 he sought every means of determining the spe- 

 cies, genera, and classes of these relics, by an 

 unwearied inspection of all that could be found, 

 by making himself acquainted with the disco- 

 veries previously made, by exactly ascertaining 

 the localities where these remains had been dug 

 up, the nature of the soils in which they had 

 been enveloped ; and he eloquently invited all 

 the savans of Europe to aid him in his great 

 enterprise, impressing on them the importance 

 of these researches, and requesting them to re- 

 port their labours to him, which labours he 

 promised to state in his work, and which pro- 

 mise he faithfully performed. In tlie Prehmi- 



