MEMOIR OP LATRE1LLE. 47 
names celebrated by the most useful discoveries in 
physics, medicine, and the practice of the arts ; that 
the Swammerdams, Linnieuses, Geoffroys, Reau- 
murs, De Geers, and Fabriciuses, had been drawn by 
a particular attraction to this interesting study, in 
such a degree that many of them at last devoted 
all their time to it, and occupied themselves with it 
exclusively. 
“ It would then become my part to point out by 
what labours the indefatigable Latreille submitted 
all the observations of these great men to a new 
test, — a more exact and complete analysis; how 
prodigiously ho added to the number of their ob- 
servations ; and how at last he succeeded in uniting 
into a body of doctrine such an immense number of 
facts, as to form at once a guide to the philosophical 
naturalist in this difficult department of science, and 
facilitate the study of all the authors who have 
treated of it. 
“ But such a demonstration is useless in reference 
to you, gentlemen, since it belongs to the history of 
a science with which you are familiar, and the 
annals of which you are daily continuing to enrich. 
“ However, although all of you know that La- 
treille was one of the most eminent men whom 
study has formed, you are not all aware that he 
was likewise one of the best whom Nature has 
made. 
“ Let one who has had the happiness to enjoy 
his friendship for the period of nearly forty years be 
permitted to pass upon him that simple eulogy. It 
