INTRODUCTION. it 
enough in other refpeds, fomethiies forced 
reparations, fometimes monftrous and unna-r 
tural alliances ! Here, placed as male and 
female, two beings that had never met toger 
ther; and there, a n)iale and a female clafled 
as two different fpecies, &g. 
In this interefting part of natural hiftory 
1 more and more acquired knowledge ; but 
I confefs that, inftead of being fatisfied, it 
only proved to me the infufficiency of my 
own ftrength. A more extenfive field was, 
however, about to be difplayed before me : 
opportunity feemed to call me at a diftance, 
and to invite n>e to put off the time no 
longer. 
In thecourfe of the year 1777, afavoura-* 
tie circumftance having conduced me to 
Paris, like every other ftranger who arrive* 
for the firft time in that capital, I paid my 
tribute of admiration to the cabinets of the 
curious, and of men of letters. I was charm- 
ed with the beauty and variety of the objeds 
which they contained, and w^ith the prodi- 
gious number of individuals of every fpecies, 
\yhich5 like a forced contribution, had come 
from 
■r . 
