112 . A LOVE OF STUDY.

indefatigable zeal and courage in the cause of zoolo-
gical research is Sonnini (de Manoncourt), born at
Lunéville in the year 1751. He was descended of
an ancient family, his father being hereditary lord
of the fief of Manoncourt in Vermois, and coun-
cillor of Stanislaus, King of Poland. He was

educated at the University of Pont a Monsoon, a
celebrated Jesuit establishment, and made such
rapid progress in his studies that at the early age
of fifteen years and a half he took the degree of
doctor in philosophy. From his youth he mani-
fested great love for the study of natural history,
and attracted, in consequence, the attention of
Buffon and Nollet, who fostered these early bud-
dings of his genius, He had been designed by his
father to occupy an official situation, and went to
Strasburg to study law ; but the bent of his mind led
him soon to relinquish this pursuit. He longed to
travel; and as the best means to attain this desire,
he resolved to embrace the profession of arms. He
soon obtained a commission in the Marine Engi-
neer service, and was sent to Cayenne in 1772. He
had found his congenial sphere. “Nature” (to use
his own. words) ‘had in a manner marked out his
destination. With an ardent imagination, a love of
the sciences, a passion for discoveries, the sang-froid
of courage, and a constitution proof against any-
thing, he appeared to be intended for the most