LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



xlvii 



ever brought together, and of living specimens in the Menagerie 

 of Reptiles, but the scientific world at large owes the production 

 of the great work on Herpetology, the ' General History of Eeptilia,' 

 which, at first in conjunction with his friend and pupil the late 

 lamented M. Bibron, was in progress for a period of twenty years. 



The scientific labours of M. Dumeril, continued through an al- 

 most unparalleled length of years with unabated vigour and success, 

 have crowned his name with universal fame, and his deserts have 

 been acknowledged in the various honours bestowed upon him. 

 In 1816 he was chosen a member of the Academy of Sciences (Sec- 

 tion of Anatomy) in place of M. Tenon, and received the decora- 

 tion of the Legion of Honour in. 1837, in which illustrious Corps 

 lie was raised to the rank of Commander a short time before his 

 death. His honoured name was added to the list of our Foreign 

 Members in 1854. 



In his zoological works he displayed great descriptive and 

 analytic powers, delighting in precise and lucid definitions, and in 

 attention to systematic classification. At the same time, however, 

 like Buffon and Pallas, Reaumur and De Greer, and many others of 

 the most illustrious zoologists, he devoted much time to the 

 study of the habits of animals, the record of which adds so much 

 not only to the scientific value, but to the popularity and interest of 

 zoological works. The subjoined list of M. Dumeril' s principal works, 

 though I fear very imperfect, will still serve, better than anything 

 else, to show how his valuable labours were continued and varied 

 during a longer life than falls to the lot of most, and continued 

 moreover, it may be said, with increasing value and importance to 

 the last. His first work left the press in 1797, when he was but 

 23 ; and his last, a quarto of 1336 pages, appeared almost simul- 

 taneously with his decease at the patriarchal age of 86. 



Few can show such a career of usefulness, and of no one can it 

 be more truly said that in its course he never made an enemy. 

 Distinguished as M. Dumeril was in science, in moral worth he was 

 equally eminent. Devoted in friendship, amiable towards his col- 

 leagues, paternal towards his pupils, benevolent towards all men, 

 void of jealousy or envy towards rivals, — his praise was always 

 ready where it could be bestowed, and his encouragement wherever 

 it was needed. 



The following are the principal works for which science is in- 

 debted to M. Dumeril : — 



1. Dissertation sur l'Organe de l'Odorat, et sur son existence, 

 dans les Insectes. 1797. 



