838 O. C. Marsh—History and Methods of 
work, and the results were now given to the world. Cuvier 
laid the foundation of the paleontology of Vertebrate animals ; 
- Lamarck, of the Invertebrates ; and Smith established the prin- 
ciples of “caer ERATE Paleontology. The investigator of 
fossils to-day seldom needs to consult earlier authors of the 
species. “This idea,” he says later, “which I announced to” 
the Institute in the month of January 1796, opened to me 
views entirely new respecting the theory of the earth, and 
determined me to devote myself to the long researches and to 
the assiduous labors which have now occupied me for twenty- 
e years. 
It is interesting to note here that in this first investigation 
of fossil vertebrates, Cuvier employed the same method that 
a distant ocean ; but the two species of ee elope 
for the study of the remains of animals was far in advance of 
Whole kingdom with care, and roposed a new classification. 
founded on the plan of structure, which in its main features 
the one in use to-day. The first volume of his Comparative 
_ Anatomy appeared in 1800, and the work was completed 
five volumes in 1805. 
_ Previous to Cuvier, the only general catalogue of animals 
Was contained in Linnesus’ “Systema Natura.” In this work, 
as we have seen, fossil remains were placed with the Miner's, 
= their appropriate places among the animals and plants. 
-— ® Ossemens Fossiles, Second Edition, Vol. I, p. 178. 
