PREFACE ix 



by Dr. J. Deniker, the librarian of the BibHothfeque 

 du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. 



I had begun in the museum library, which con- 

 tains nearly if not every one of Lamarck's publica- 

 tions, to prepare a bibliography of all of Lamarck's 

 writings, when, to my surprise and pleasure, I was 

 presented with a very full and elaborate one by the 

 assistant-librarian, M. Godefroy Malloisel. 



To Professor Edmond Perrier I am indebted for a 

 copy of his valuable Lamarck et le Trans formisme 

 Actuel, reprinted from the noble volume commem- 

 orative of the centennial of the foundation of the 

 Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, which has proved of 

 much use. 



Other sources from which biographical details have 

 been taken are Cuvier's dloge, and the notice of La^ 

 marck, with a list of many of his writings, in the 

 Revue biographique de la Socidtd malacologique de 

 France, 1886. This notice, which is illustrated by 

 three portraits of Lamarck, one of which has been 

 reproduced, I was informed by M. Paul Kleinsieck 

 was prepared by the late J. R. Bourguignat, the emi- 

 nent malacologist and anthropologist. The notices 

 by Professor Mathias Duval and by L. A. Bourguin 

 have been of essential service. 



As regards the account of Lamarck's speculative 

 and theoretical views, I have, so far as possible, pre- 

 ferred, by abstracts and translations, to let him tell 

 his own story, rather than to comment at much 

 length myself on points about which the ablest 

 thinkers and students differ so much. 



It is hoped that Lamarck's writings referring to 



