Peron sailed as a zoologist on the Géographe, Nicolas Baudin's flagship, but he also pioneered studies in marine biology, anthropology and oceanography. His bitter feud with Baudin overshadowed later assessments of the French achievements. Volume 1 covers the voyage out (1800-02), and vividly describes the expedition's discoveries in Western Australia and Tasmania, as well as its visits to Timor and Sydney. Péron's observations on the Tasmanian aborigines and on the convict colony are of absorbing interest. The second volume commences with the departure from Port Jackson, revisits Timor and returns to France. The chapters in volume [3] were not originally included in the second volume, but due to demand it was decided to do a very limited edition of the section ommitted with the subtitle: Dissertations on various subjects.