DUMERIL. 516 DUMICHEN. appointed professor of anatomy and physiology at the University of Paris, where, in 1819, he also obtained the chair of internal [jatliolo^y. ■which he occupied for more than fcjrty years. He was also at one time the substitute of Cuvier in the de|)artnicnt of natural liistory of the Ecole Centrale du Pantheon. It was, however, as as- sistant of Lacepfde, in the course of herpetolofr' and ichthyology, at the Jardin des Planles, that he obtained that wide exjierience and extensive information which enabled him to write the first comprehensive work on reptiles, entitled, Erpt'- tologie generate, on hi.ttoire uniiireUc compltle des reptiles, in collaboration with Bibron (1834- 54). His other publications include: Trtiitc clc- vieiitnirr il'Iiistoire luilurclle (2d ed. 1807), and Zoiilofiir aiialiitique, etc. (1806). DUMERIL, AuGUSTE Henri AxuRt (1812- 70). A French naturalist, son of Andre M. C. Dumiril. He was born in Paris, and studied medicine at the nniversilv in that city. In 1847 he was appointed professor of geologrs" at the Coll^^e Chaptal. and ten years later he succeed- ed his father as director of the llusenni of Nat- ural Historv. He assisted in the preparation of his father's Erpctoloflie, and wrote Des oilrurs 184.'?) ; Hii/dirr iiutiirellc des poissotis (lS0.)-70) ; and other works. DUMERXL, EnfiLE.STAiTD PoxTAS (1801-71). A Frencli phihilogist. He was born at Valognes, Normandy, and s>il)seq>iently removed to Paris. After publishing La mart de Garin le Loharain and other examples of medireval French text, he began the collection of medi.TPval Latin poetry, published under the respective titles Poesies iatiiies aiiterieures au Xlleme sicele (1843) and Po<;sies latines du moi/en age (1847). These works won for him a wide reputation as a Latin- ist. As an arehieologist and historian of lit- erature he published: Essiii sur I'origine des runes (1844) ; Des formes du mariage pendant le moi/en tine (1801); and Uistoire de la eome- die^ I 18(14 fi7). DUMERSAN, dn'mAr'saX' Tiifiopllll.R :Mar- lON (1780-1849). A French numisnuitist and plaj'wright, born in the Castle of Castelnau, near Issoudun, Indre. In 1842 he was appointed di- rector of the royal cabinet of coins, after an association of nearly fifty years with that estab- lishment. He wrote about two hundred and thirtv vaudevilles, among which the l.'tiiigr et le diahle, a drani;i in five acts, was verv popu- lar. His best work, however, and one which in its way is still referred to as a model of its kind, is the plav entitled Les f^altimhanques (1838). His principal work on numismatics is the Xofiee des montinieiits exposes dans le cabinet des nU'dailles et antiqiits (1820: frequent subse- quent editions) . DTJMESNIL, di.i'ma'nel', Marie Frantoise Marcii.wi) (1713-1803). A celebrated French tragic actress. According to the usual account, she was born in Paris, but her first experience upon the stage was gained in the provinces, at Strassbiirg and elsewhere. She made her debut in the Thftltre Francais in 1737 as Clytenmestra in Iphigfnie. Her imposing appearance and power of tragic expression gave her immense control over her audiences. Once, it i= related, those in the front seats were so overcome with horror that the.v fairly retreated before her. leaving their places vacant. Her superiority to her rival. Mademoiselle Clairon, is generally acknowledged, though there were critics who re- sented the innovations of her forceful genius. Among her great parts were Athalie, Phfdre, Medea, Semiramis, and especially Mi'rope. which won for her lH)th the admiration and the grati- tude of 'oltaire, its author. She continued upon the stage till 177(>, when she retired upon a pen- sion largely supplemented by the favor of the t'ourt. She died at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Consult Coste d'Arnobat. Memoire de Marie Franeoise Dtimesnil (Paris, 1800). written in reply to an attack upon her by Mademoiselle Clairon. DUMFRIES, dum-frfs'. A royal Parliamen- tary and municipal burgh, river port, and the ca|)ital of Dinnfriesshire, Scotland, on the N'ith, miles from its mouth in the Solwav Firth, 73 miles south-southwest of Edinburgh, and 33 miles west-northwest of Carlisle (Maj): Scot- land, E 4), It stands on rising ground, sur- rounded, except toward the sea, l)y fine, undu- lating hills, and is irregularly built of red free- stone. One of the bridges across the N'ith is be- lieved to have been built about 1280 by Devor- gilla. the mother of John Baliol, who also erected the Greyfriars' monastery in the chapel of which, in 130(), Robert the Bruce slew the Red Comyn. Saint ilichael's churchyard contains the grave of Robert Burns, the poet. The houses in which he lived and the one in which he died are marked with tablets. Among the modern buildings may be mentioned the county building, a Scotch baronial structure, the post-oflice, Crichton In- stitution, and the general infirmary. The chief industry is the manufacture of tweeds, hosiery, leather, baskets, and wooden shoes. Us cattle fairs are also of importance, and an import trade is carried on in oilseed cake, beans, and manures. Two objects of interest in the neigh- borhood are the ruins of Lincluden Abbey and Caerlaverock Castle, an ancient stronghold of the ilaxwells. Dumfries is believed to have grown up about an ancient British fortress. It was made .a royal burgh bv William the Lion. It suffered severely during the Border wars. In 1745 it was the headquarters of the Yinnig Pretender, who appropriated the town's funds. Consult Maxwell. Historii of Dumfries (Edinburgh, ISO(i). DUMFRIESSHIRE. A border county in the southern division of Scotland, on the Solway Firth, having Kirkcudbright on the west (Map: Scotland, E 4). It has 22 miles of eoast-line on the Solway Firth, toward which its surface slopes; area, I0()3 square miles. The mineral products are coal, limestone, ironstone, lead, and silvei". There are extensive lead-mines at Wan- lockhead: limestone is quarried in the parishes of Keir and Carmertrees; zinc ore is mined at Abington. and coal at Sanquhar and Canonbic. The chief occupations are agriculture and the raising of cattle, sheep, and swine. Sheep-farms occupy the hills. There are salmon fisheries in the rivers. Population, in 1801. .54.000; in 1851, 78.100; in 1801, 74,245: in 1001, 72,570. Capi- tal. Dumfries. DUMICHEN, di.i'mlK-cn. .Johannes (1833- 04). A (iernian Egyptologist, a pupil of Lep- sius. His numerous works consist almost en- tirel.v of editions of Egyptian inscriptions, de- rive(i from temples of the Greek and Roman period. He devoted special attention to the very
