May 20, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



799 



agreable and will be equally useful on both sides. 

 We shall send you with pleasure and care a col- 

 lection of the European productions in exchange 

 for the Americans, which your love for the sci- 

 ence of Nature impels you to collect, be so kind 

 as to correspond with us on this subject. The 

 way by wich your letters and your sendings can 

 reach us is simple. Direct your instructions to 

 the Minister of the Marine of the french re- 

 publique; marking on the direction that they are 

 destined for the Museum of Natural History. 



Give us leave. Sir, to call your attention on the 

 subjects wich we desire to receive first. Those 

 enormous bones wich are found in great quantity 

 on the borders of the Ohio the exact knowledge 

 of those objects is more important towards the 

 theory of the earth, than is generally thought of. 

 We ardently wish some couples of alive animals 

 a bourses (Marsupialia, opossums). Their gen- 

 eration is too hypothetical. The french Natural- 

 ists wish to acquire at last a solid opinion on 

 this important question, wich can throw a light 

 on the generation in general. The scalpel may 

 perhaps lead us to discover particular organs, 

 wich have not yet been described, wich might 

 afford us some new views. 



We also desire some species of quadrupeds of 

 your climate, they have some conformity with 

 those of the ancient continent, they are even been 

 confounded with one another. Neverthelss we 

 think they differ as to their species; and to be as- 

 sured of it positively we should be pleased to re- 

 ceive indistinctly* all those you could have gath- 

 ered. We are about to proove that no species 

 of the ancient continent exists in the new et vice 

 versa and that great proof founded in the contrary 

 opinion by wich both continents were formerly 

 united towards the north would fall as groundless. 

 Therefore it would be highly important to us 

 to know the Bears of the Illinois the stags and 

 Roe-bucks of Canada the stairs,t the mountain 

 Rats (Marmottes) the weasels (Belettes) the Bats 

 (Chauvre souris) the moles (taupes) the martes 

 (les martes) the beavers {les Castors ou bievres) 

 etc We should be grateful if you would join to 

 these the animals of our own country wich have 

 transmitted in our ships to your country, as the 

 rats, the mouses the sorex araneus (mus araigne). 

 It is incredible what variety these animals offer to 

 the attentive eye. How many analogous forms 

 are taken for Species. It would be interesting to 

 know what degeneration their transplantation has 

 produced on their economy. They would lead us 

 * ? indiscriminately. 

 •|- ? Bison. 



to a more exact knowledge on the nature of the 

 Species and even of the Species in general. 

 Spiritous liquors are the best means of preserving 

 of all those animals, by this mean we will ac- 

 quire with respect to foreign animals all the most 

 striking facts wich they offer to the observator. 

 We know better their external form, their 

 skeletton, their organes of nutrition, of respiration, 

 of circulation, of generation; and to finish ani- 

 mals always arive in a good condition. It is the 

 manner in wich we shall transmit to you all our 

 animals, wether quadrupeds, or birds or insects 

 if these animals are of a smale size unless you 

 prefer the ordinary means. 



As to great animals whose preservation in 

 spirituous liquor would be too dispendious,* we 

 would be satisfied with the skins but for gods sake 

 leave to the skin the scull and bones of the feet. 

 We would be equally grateful if you would add to 

 your envoys a skeleton separated from the great 

 animals, whose form is diiferent from that of 

 those species well known in Europe, and to use the 

 language of Naturalists a skeletton of each gender. 

 We shall pay the same regard to you We shall 

 not fail of sending you preparations as we wish 

 them form you, convinced that it is to the progress 

 of Natural History. 



We already possess a sufficient quantity of smal 

 birds from north America, however the list of 

 those wanting in consulting the work of Catesby 

 is considerable, you will find it with this letter. 

 By this mean you will be informed that all the 

 birds marked by Catesby wich are not inscribed 

 on the list form a part of our precious collection 

 and are less necessary than the others. 



We wished. Sir, that our correspondance should 

 not be confined to the exchanges of European 

 productions with American only, be to kind as to 

 make it litterary; send us the catalogue of all 

 the works appearing on Natural History in the 

 united States. Let us know the history of that 

 science by your know corporations of learned men 

 instituted to its progress. Depend on the recipro- 

 cation on our part. Inquire, Sir, after all the 

 particulas; do not fear to swell your letter. I 

 shall give it ful credit as much as it lays in my 

 power. When the means shall be deficient, I shall 

 write it to you -nith frankness. 



Accept, Sir, the assurance of our estim and 

 obedience. 



LAMARCK Geoffeot 



for director. Professor and Secretary of the 

 Administration of the Mu- 

 seum of Natxiral History. 

 * ? Expensive. 



