Art Gallery - Buffon 1835

Madagascar Squirrel & Flying Squirrel 1. Le Tagouan ou Grand Ecureuil Volant Ordre: des Rongeurs Genre: Ecureuil (Cuvier) 2. Le Grand Ecureuil de la Cote de Malabar 3. L'Ecureuil de Madagascar Ordre: des Rongeurs Ouvres Completes de Buffon Avec Les Suplements, Augmentees de la Classification de G, Cuvier Volume VI Quadrupeds Georges Louis Buffon 1835 De Buffon's work was an exhaustive attempt to explain the origins of every living thing, and as such de Buffon paid great attention to the organization and classification of all the animals he illustrated. De Buffon did not prescribe to the more scientific Linnaeus system for classification, which has become today's standard, but instead adhered to the older Cuvier system of classification, which he believed was more truthful to nature. This is evidenced by the many identifications throughout the book, adding an unusual and interesting historic value to his work. Each plate identifies, in French, the name of the animal as well as the Order, Genre and Family to which it belongs, according to the Cuvier system.