Articles

Alcide-Charles-Victor Dessalines D’Orbigny (1802–1857)

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Abstract

The name of Alcide d'Orbigny looms large in the study of Mollusca as any perusal of a systematic work in the field will show. His paleontological work is no less worthy of attention in spite of the fact that his books are now rarities. He traveled extensively in South America, visited North America on his return, and diligently described his finds in what are the foundation works of South American geology, paleontology, malacology, and added much to the knowledge of that continent's mammals and birds. Yet, unless some obscure work has escaped my eye, it seems that there is no account of his life and work in English save summaries (e.g. Zittel, 1908, p. 506) and mention in standard biographical works. In French, accounts of his life and work are no less scarce. The most extensive account is that of Fischer (1878). Roule (1933) and Lys (1957, 1958) have published short biographic accounts, the last two on the occasion of the centenary of d'Orbigny' s death.

How to Cite:

La Rocque, A., (1966) “Alcide-Charles-Victor Dessalines D’Orbigny (1802–1857)”, Sterkiana 24(1), 1-5.