BELON, PIERRE, a distinguished French naturalist, born at the hamlet of Souilletière, in Le Maine, about the year 1517. He published several works in Latin and in French, including a book of travels, or observations of many singularities
and memorable things found in Greece, Asia, Judæa, Egypt, and other foreign countries. Botany and zoology are particularly indebted to Belon; and he may be considered as the great reviver of the study of natural history. He was murdered near Paris by one of his enemies in 1564.