botanists. He was a frequent visitor at the house of M. de Jussieu, whose celebrity drew around him all who devoted themselves to this branch of science. Whenever a new collection of plants arrived in Paris, Lamarck was the first to inspect it; and when the celebrated Sonnerat returned from India in 1781, he was so much pleased with Lamarck’s enthusiasm, as contrasted with the comparative indifference of most other naturalists, that he presented him with the magnificent herbarium which he had made in the east. It is to zeal like this that we are entitled to look for the achievement of the highest results in science. Notwithstanding the patronage of Buffon, and others having the greatest influence with the government, it was long before Lamarck succeeded in obtaining any permanent and lucrative appointment. His chief dependence was on the casual and precarious engagements which he formed with booksellers, according to whose direction he was obliged to labour; a painful restraint to a man of genius, impatient to develope his own conceptions in whatever way he judged best fitted to render them effective. He was at length nominated by M. de la Billardiere, a relation of his own, to a place which seems to have been created expressly for him, by which the duty was assigned him of keeping the herbaria in the king’s cabinet. Although the emolument arising from this office was inconsiderable, and the tenure of it uncertain and invidious, for the National Assembly were called upon to suppress it as unnecessary, he continued to hold it for several years, till a change occurred which opened new prospects and entailed new duties. This happened in 1793, when the establishment known by the name of the king’s garden and cabinet were remodelled and distinguished by the title of _Museum of Natural History_. The professors of the suppressed institution were appointed to superintend such departments taught in the new, as most nearly corresponded to their previous occupations; and as Lamarck was the last appointed, he was obliged to take charge of that branch unappropriated by the others, which happened to be the two extensive classes of the animal kingdom, named _Insecta_ and _Vermes_ by Linnæus. A new direction was thus given to his studies, for zoology as a science had hitherto occupied but little of his regard. Indeed, the only knowledge of this subject which he possessed, directly available in his new station, seems to have been limited to _Testaceous Mollusca_, which attracted his attention at a pretty early period. But the occasion was just such a one as was best calculated to excite the natural ardour and energy of his character. He entered upon this new field of inquiry with the utmost eagerness, and cultivated it with so much skill and facility, that he was soon in a condition to instruct others, and ultimately to produce works which will form a lasting monument to his fame.