vi PREFACE. 
Government with the task of bringing to a conclusion 
the zoological portion of the 'Description de I'Egypte/ 
the progress of which had been interrupted by the loss 
of sight that had befallen Savigny, its author. This 
duty AuDOUiN performed with much skill, considering 
the drawbacks with which he had to contend, and the 
great work was at last completed. On his other labours 
and his subsequent career there is no need here to 
dwell. He died 9th November, 1841. 
In the "jSTote" to which reference is made on the 
first page of this reprint the circumstances under which 
the Minister of the Interior (M. Corbiere) decided on 
taking steps to continue the unfinished work of Savigny 
are stated at length. They were such as to fully warrant ' 
the action ; and due regard seems to have been shewn \ 
to the feelings of the afflicted author, both by the 
Minister himself and by the members of the Commission' 
d'Egypte under his direction. It will be enough to 
quote two passages from the letter addressed by him 
to Savigny on tlie 19th March, 1825 : — 
" C'est dans ce but, et pour vons prouver I'estime que m'onf 
inspiree I'etendue de vos connaissances et voire caractere, que' 
j'ai choisi run de vos eleves, M. Audouin, pour dresser cef 
explications. Comme son travail se rapportera aux description; 
completes qui pourront voiis devoir le jour, la science n'es 
pas moins interessee que Tadministration a ce qu' aucune ei 
reur grave ne se glisse dans I'explication des planches qu'o 
va publier. 
"Je vous prie done, monsieur, de donner a M. Audoui 
tous les renseignemens dont il aurait besoin pour bien rempl 
