102 Correspondence of J. Nickiés. 
that province of Italy. Returning to France he resumed in 1808 his 
position of Engineer. Always at his studies, he continued, with the ad- 
vice of Haiiy, his researches in mineralogy and geology which were com- 
menced under Dolomieu. In ren e was at the Canary islands where 
he studied the action of volcan 
Taking for the object of his sti a science which was then in its 
infancy, Cordier became without much effort one of the founders of the 
science of geology. His yaar lar: a the friendship of Haiiy and the 
protection of the mineralogist Ramond, secured him nF to the 
Academie des Sciences where he took the place of Haiiy mn 1822. 
tks apt general inspector of mines in 1831 he cckawsn per- 
oe the administrative duties of the office. 
was'not without honors and dignity under the dynasty of Louis 
Pailippe, and in the meen bie he preserved all his peow te and 
never the courtier of 
continued to the rse in which Finca was taught as it had 
been in 1825. Moca had neglected paleontology; he was the oldest 
engineer of m e representive of the old school of 
Acclimation.— say se The Zoolegical Society of ree sa con- 
tinue their labors with success, and find themselves in corr ne 
consultations upon different questions relating : Pia digiation and do- 
mestication ; it has founded prizes many of which have been awarded 
this year to recompense real success. A number of these have been 
given for the propagation of sheep called Graux de Mauchamp, originated 
but afew years since and now celebrated for its beautiful and silken 
fleece. This race of sheep was ormnated about 1850 by a distinguished 
cultivator M. Graux: a lamb having been born at Mauchamp with a 
fleece of a remarkable silken anahte he undertook to obtain a new race 
of sheep and by superior intelligence he was successful. 
At present the silky wool called Graux de Mauchamp has taken an im- 
portant place in French industry, and even in 1855 it had become cele- 
rated, These results have been obtained by Davin a woolen manufac- 
turer. Since then this manufacturer has introduced to commerce and 
of the ae thus glandulosa, or of the Ricinus; the latter of whole 
been introduced from the poste isles. The diffic ulty in our country, is 
to quips the hatching of the cocoons until the Ricinus puts forth leaves. 
