174 MEMOIRS OF 



precipitous career ; and the wisdom and prudent 

 reserve of the one, uniting themselves to the 

 force and rapidity of the other, gave to the 

 " Histoire des Quadrup^des," the only work 

 common to both, that perfection which makes it 

 the most interesting part of the great Natural 

 History of Buffon. It is more exempt from 

 errors than the rest, and will long remain a 

 classical book among naturalists. Daubenton 

 was appointed " Demonstrateur du Cabinet 

 d'Histoire Naturelle," and his salary was gra- 

 dually augmented from five hundred francs to 

 four thousand ; he was lodged at BufFon's, and 

 nothing was neglected which could ensure him 

 that ease of circumstances which is necessary to 

 every man of letters, every savant who would be 

 wholly devoted to science. Daubenton, on his 

 side, amply repaid these kindnesses by unremit- 

 tinir obedience to the views of his benefactor, 

 and, at the same time, erected a monument to 

 his own glory. Before the time of Daubenton, 

 the Museum of Natural History was a mere ca- 

 binet, and, strictly speaking, only contained the 

 shells collected by Tournefort for the amuse- 

 ment of Louis XV., when young. In a very 

 few years, the whole face was changed. Mine- 

 rals, fruits, woods, and shells were brought 



