PERREIN, Jean, French naturalist, born near Mont de Marsan in 1750; died in New York in October, 1805. He was the son of successful merchants, and was destined for a commercial career, but his preference was for science, and after the death of his parents he travelled in northern Africa, Arabia, Persia, and India, forming collections in natural history. On his return he presented these to the Academy of sciences of Bordeaux, and was elected by that body an associate member. In 1794 he set out for North America, and visited the Hudson bay territory, the Rocky mountains, the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, and all the New England states. On his way to France he died of malaria fever. His collections and manuscripts were sent to Paris and were utilized by Charles Sonnini in his " Histoire naturelle des poissons et des cetaces" (Paris, 1804), and for the great edition of Buffon's works (1798-1807, 127 vols.). Perrein's "Voyage chez les Indiens de l'Amerique du N ord, avec un apergu des usages et du caractere de ces peuples" (2 vols., Paris, 1809) is a very rare and valuable work. His manuscripts in the National library of Paris are often consulted by European writers on North America.