124 HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM. 



him on the i5th of November 1795, and named 

 professor after his death on the 1st of November 

 1802, has taught it in ils generality and in its 

 details, embracing the analogies of all classes of 

 animals, from the polypus to the elephant, by 

 the comparison of their essential organs. He 

 has also formed ihe cabinet of comparative ana- 

 tomy, from materials furnished by the mena- 

 gerie, or contributed by travellers and foreign 

 naturalists. 



The establishment of a course of geology, dis- 

 tinct from that of mineralogy, was a most judi- 

 cious innovation (1). Without the precise cha- 

 racters afforded by mineralogy, the geologist can- 

 not ascertain the genera and species in their pure 

 state, nor discern the elements of an aggregate 

 body, and the alteration of the primitive forms 

 by the mixture of different substances ; but the 

 history of the great masses which cover the globe, 

 of the relative situation and different formation 

 of rocks, of subterranean fires and volcanic pro- 

 ductions, of thermal waters, of fossil bones and 

 shells found at different depths, forms a peculiar 

 science, founded on innumerable observations, 



(1) Geology was formerly so little attended to that even the name 

 was known only to men of learning. The word geology was not found 

 in the dictionary of the academy, although the analogous terms zoology, 

 and zoography were inserted. 



