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perfection in the structure of fossil animals, receding gradually inte 
more and more simple forms of organization, as he traced them 
backwards from the extinct Mammalia of the caverns to the remains 
of molluscous and radiated animals in the transition rocks; and 
though his premises were few, he rightly drew from them conclu- 
sions, less extensive, but similar to those which forty years of fur- 
ther observation over large portions of the earth have more fully 
established, as to the antiquity of the globe. 
His love for archeology led to his making a collection of antique 
gems. He had also a collection of engravings by the older masters, 
and of ancient woodcuts, which he valued as indiees of the progress 
of science at the time when they were imade. 
Blumenbach was a wise and good and profoundly learned man ; 
born with considerable talent, and well educated from his childhood, 
he passed his whole life in the best literary and scientific society ; and 
being placed in an influential academical position, he poured forth 
daily, during more than half a century, from his rich reservoirs of 
knowledge unceasing streams to instruct and benefit mankind. His 
biographer Mark (Gottingen, 1840) enumerates more than a hun- 
dred distinct publications of his on various subjects, among which 
are some biographical sketches of professors and other distinguished 
men. He possessed a happy, lively and cheerful disposition; was a 
man of most punctual and temperate habits, ate always the same 
moderate quantity of food, and was never intoxicated in his life. 
He abandoned smoking at 66; at 86 he left off taking snuff; and 
eould read small print without spectacles at 88. Blumenbach 
seemed born for the express functions of a Professor: from morn- 
ing till night, his academic duties were his daily occupation and de- 
light ; and the works of his leisure hours are a register of the pro- 
gress of discovery in many branches of natural science during 
more than half a century in which he flourished. As a lecturer his 
style was familiar, playful, and not unfrequently jocose, always 
animated and sometimes eloquent, leaving a clear understanding 
and deep remembrance of the matter he wished to impress upon 
his hearers ; he was the personal friend, as well as preceptor, of all 
his pupils, of whom great multitudes have expressed their gratitude 
in dedications of their works to the teacher from whom they de- 
rived the rudiments of their knowledge. 
In 1791 he visited London, which he named the sixth quarter of 
the world, and was honourably received by Sir Joseph Banks and 
the Royal Society, where he assisted at the opening of six mummies, 
respecting which he published a paper in the Philosophical Trans- 
actions ; he was also honoured with a command to visit King George 
the Third at Windsor. In 1803 he accompanied the King of Bavaria 
on a tour to the Hartz and Magdeburg. In 1806 he went to Paris 
on diplomatic business connected with the University of Gottingen, 
and was introduced by Lacépéde to the Emperor Napoleon. At 
the celebration of the centenary jubilee of the University of Gét- 
tingen, in 1825, the King of Hanover forgot not to visit the house 
of his old preceptor, which, in 1786, he had so often frequented as: 
