112 Correspondence of J. Nicklés. 
ciété Zoologique d’ Acclimation has set on foot a subscription to erect two 
statues ; one to the celebrated naturalist Daubenton, the master of Haity; 
the other to Parmentier, at once a chemist and a naturalist, one of whose 
principal merits consisted in having introduced the potatoe into France. 
The following brief biographical sketches of these two distinguished men 
may not be without present interest : 
A born at Montbard, May 29,1716. About the year 
1742, Buffon called him to Paris as demonstrator in the eigen nat- 
e 
S| 
5 
Z 
| 
7 
we cannot know what part of these works was performed by him, we well 
know that Buffon was indebted to him for a considerable part of his fame; 
and it is said with reason that without Daubenton, Buffon would not 
have been able to accomplish his work ; while without Buffon, Daubenton 
would have been able to compose his useful works. 
fortune in this enterprise, but success crowned his efforts. 17 
the National Convention directed a republication of his work on the im 
provement of sheep, a work which has been translated into the principal 
less realized to the present time. This savant was the real founder of the 
Cabinet of Natural History of the Jardin des Plantes, which original 
contained little else than a collection of shells, and which served after- 
wards to amuse the early years of Louis XV. Many of the specimens still 
bear the marks of the caprice of the royal infant. By the care of Dauber 
ton this cabinet in a few years entirely changed its appearance. Min 
i ds, and shells were gathered from all parts of the world. Thea 
also were discovered and perfected the means of preserving all parts of of 
ganized bodies. A complete description and catalogue of the Museu 
was also then begun. 
Cuvier tells us that Daubenton was the first who applied the knowledg? 
comparative anatomy to the determination of fossil species. He w4 
oreo 
Etienne Geoffroy St. Hi 
worthy of remark that Daubenton was initiated into science by Buffod 
Etienne Geoffroy by Daubenton, and Cuvier by Etienne Geoffroy St 
. 
spermine erst es 
oe 
saa 2a 
Sopra 
