BARON CUVIER. 119 



only intended by him as an example of the ex- 

 tent of which such an undertaking is capable, 

 but served the double purpose of aiding his 

 further researches among fossil fishes. It was 

 announced by himself in the conclusion of that 

 on Fossil Remains, in the following terms : — 

 " I shall now consecrate the remainder of my 

 time and strength to the publication of those 

 researches already made in the Natural History, 

 of Fishes, but, above all, to the termination of 

 my general Treatise on Comparative Anatomy.'* 

 Scarcely did he seem to breathe between the 

 finished and the commenced undertaking ; in 

 fact, the materials for several were collecting at 

 the same time ; that which he termed his " Ge- 

 neral Treatise on Comparative Anatomy" was 

 always in preparation ; every week brought a 

 fresh accumulation of notes and drawings ; many 

 of the latter, and all of the former, made by his 

 own hand. The plan of the Ichthyology was 

 laid before the public by M. Cuvier, in a Pro- 

 spectus describing the state of this branch of 

 the science, his actual resources, and those he 

 hoped to enjoy. M. Valenciennes, now Pro- 

 fessor of Mollusca to the Museum of the Jardin 

 des Plantes, was called in to aid him ni the in- 

 numerable details attendant on such an enter- 



j 4 



