le's 'Vegetable Statics' and Newton's 'Fluxions'; and he
followed these with various studies in the different branches of
physical science.

The determining event in his life, which led him to devote the rest of
his years to the study of natural history, was the death of his friend
Du Fay, the Intendant of the Jardin du Roi (now the Jardin des Plantes),
who on his death-bed recommended Buffon as his successor. A man of
letters, Buffon saw before him the opportunity to write a natural
history of the earth and its inhabitants; and he set to work with a zeal
that lasted until his death in 1788, at the age of eighty-one. His great
work, 'L'Histoire Naturelle,' was the outcome of these years of labor,
the first edition being complete in thirty-six quarto volumes.

The first fifteen volumes of this great work, published between the
years 1749 and 1767, treated of the theory of the earth, the nature of
animals, and the history of man and viviparous quadrupeds; and was the
joint work of Buffon and Daubenton, a physician of Buffon's native
village. The scientific portion of the work was done by Daubenton, who
possessed considerable anatomical knowledge, and who wrote accurate
descriptions of the various animals mentioned. Buffon, however, affected
to ignore the work of his co-laborer and reaped the entire glory, so
that Daubenton withdrew his services. Later appeared the nine volumes on
birds, in which Buffon was aided by the Abbe Sexon. Then followed the
'History of Minerals' in five volumes, and seven volumes of
'Supplements,' the last one of which was published the year after
Buffon's death.

One can hardly admire the personal character of Buffon. He was vain and
superficial, and given to extravagant speculations. He is reported to
have said, "I know but five great geniuses--Newton, Bacon, Leibnitz,
Montesquieu, and myself." His natural vanity was undoubtedly fostered by
the adulation which he received from those in authority. He saw his own
statue placed in the cabinet of Louis XVI., with the inscription
"Majestati Naturae par ingenium." Louis XV. bestowed upon him a title of
nobility, and crowned heads "addressed him in language of the most
exaggerated compliment." Buffon's conduct and conversation were marked
throughout by a certain coarseness and vulgarity that constantly appear
in his writings. He was foppish and trifling, and affected religion
though at heart a disbeliever.

The chief value of Buffon's work lies in