44 PEOCEEDIN'GS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. • 



various periodicals and read before learned Societies, Prof. Gervais 

 has contributed most importantly to the advancement of our know- 

 ledge of the Tertiary Mammalia. 



One of the memoirs in the 'Zoologie et Paleontologie generales/ 

 is devoted to the discussion of the antiquity of man, aud of the 

 changes which have taken place in the European fauna since the 

 close of the Tertiary period — subjects which attracted much of the 

 author's attention during the last twenty years of his life. 



JoHANN Peiedeich Beandt was born May 25, 1802, at Jiiter- 

 bogh, in the Prussian province of Brandenburg, and died at the 

 Baths of Merrekiill, on the Gulf of Pinland, 15th July, 1879. He 

 was carefully educated by his parents at Jiiterbogh, where his 

 father was a successful surgeon ; and here he derived from his 

 uncle Hensius the love of botany which engrossed much of his at- 

 tention for twenty years. Prom the Gymnasium of Jiiterbogh he 

 passed to the Lyceum of Wittenberg, studying classics, and in 1821 

 entered the University of Berlin. In his first vacation he visited 

 the Harz with his fellow- student Eatzeburg, and, having won the 

 medical prize for an essay on Respiration, was enabled next year to 

 travel through the Eiesengebirge. Subsequently he made many 

 journeys with Goppert, who remained his friend throughout life. 

 Lichtenstein's lectures in Berlin stimulated him to active zoological 

 work, and led him to visit museums of anatom}^ He at this time 

 acted as amanuensis to Rudolphi. In 1825 he published a ' Plora 

 Berolinensis.' His examinations were passed with distinction in 

 1826 ; and he became M.D., surgeon, and accoucheur. His inaugural 

 thesis was entitled ' Observationes Anatomicge de Mammalium quo- 

 rundam vocis instrumento.' The year following he became assistant 

 to Heine, and for nine months was engaged in the Zoological Mu- 

 seum. In conjunction with Eatzeburg he began in 1827 to issue 

 the first volume of their ' Medical Zoology,' which occupied the next 

 two years; and he also wrote many articles for the ' Encyklopii- 

 dische Lexikon.' In 1829 he issued the first part of the Plants of 

 the Prussian Pharmacopoeia, as well as the German Poisonous Plants, 

 and contributed to the ' Medical Encyclopaedia.' Important works 

 were completed in 1830, and he began monographs of the Myriopods 

 and Oniscidse, as well as a monograph of the Mammals founded upon 

 Biirde's ' Abbildungen merkwiirdiger Saugethiere.' 



In 1831 he left Berlin with the title of Professor Extraordinary, 

 and, through the influence of Humboldt and Eudolphi, went to the 

 Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, first as assistant in and sub- 

 sequently as director of the Zoological Museum. Here honours came 

 thick upon him. Pie was elected an ordinary member of the 

 Academy, became an Imperial Eussian Councillor, received the title 

 of Excellency, was invested with many distinguished orders, was 

 elected into the Imp. Acad. Leop. Carol, and many of the academies 

 and scientific societies of Europe. At the time of his Doctor's 

 Jubilee in January 187G, his published scientific writings numbered 

 300. Of these 176 are zoological, 24 relate to comparative ana- 



