78 Natural Histoyy in London. 



of roads and of canals, and the facility of their execution. All these are but 

 a few of the topics that come strictly within the province of the geologist ; 

 and which are so essential to the prosperous management of landed pro- 



f)erty, that a geological map may, perhaps, with truth, be considered as not 

 ess necessary to the country gentleman, than the topographical plan of his 

 estates." 



This discourse is an admirable specimen of what, in our opinion, ought to 

 be delivered annually by the president of every literary and scientific insti- 

 tution. It is true, not many, if any, of these could show that they have 

 advanced their particular science or object so much as the Geological So- 

 ciety has done ; but it would give the public a much better opportunity of 

 judging than they now have, of the objects and efforts of such societies and 

 institutions, if such annual summaries of their meetings and transactions 

 were delivered to the members, and published to the world. It is evident, 

 also, that such summary views would, in various ways, promote the pros- 

 perity of such societies. 



The Society held two meetings in March, and two in April, at which 

 some valuable papers were read. Of these, and of the Society's published 

 Transactions, we shall afterwards give some account. {PhVL. Mag. and 

 An. of PkU.) 



The Zoological Society was founded in April, 1826. The house No. 35. 

 Bruton Street, was taken in that year, and fitted up for the museum, and 

 a plot of ground in the Regent's Park was obtained for exhibiting a living 

 collection. Sir T. Stamford Raffles was the principal founder and the first 

 president of this Society. The second meeting or the Society took place 

 m March, 1827, when, in consequence of the death of the president, the 

 Marquess of Lansdown was chosen to that office. 



The museum in Bruton Street consists of several thousand animals or 

 parts of animals, the greater part of which have been voluntarily con- 

 tributed. Last year, the collection which Sir Stamford Raffles formed in 

 Sumatra, some valuable Eastern animals, a remarkable collection of horns 

 by Major General Hardwicke, an ostrich by the king, and a number of pre- 

 sents by other individuals, were added, and during the present year various 

 accessions have been made. 



In the Society's menagerie and garden, situated on the north-eastern side 

 of the Regent's Park, not far beyond the new St. Catherine's Church and 

 Hospital, nearly one hundred living animals are exhibited in suitable pad- 

 docks, dens, and aviaries. Among the most attractive of these, are two 

 beautiful llamas, one presented by the Duke of Bedford, the second by Ro- 

 bert Barclay, Esq., of Bury Hill ; a leopard, presented by Lord Auckland ; 

 some kangaroos bred in this country, by the Marquess of Hertford ; a pair 

 of emus, bred at Windsor, by Lord Mountcharles ; a Russian bear, pre- 

 sented by Lord Hertford. Specimens of the ratel, or Indian badger, ich- 

 neumons, tiger cats, badgers, monkeys, &c., add to the attractions of 

 the menagerie, Some valuable animals, from the artic regions, have 

 been lately presented by the Hudson's Bay company : such as Canadian 

 lynxes, arctic foxes, porcupines, horned owls, &c. The ornithological 

 department comprises several species of eagles, cranes, gulls, gannetts, 

 cormorants, with various gallinaceous birds, &c. 



Nearly 1000 members have already joined the Society. The annual pay- 

 ment is two guineas, and the admission fee five guineas ; or the whole may 

 be compounded for by a payment of twenty-five pounds. The Society will 

 probably soon be incorporated, when, as is usual, the terms of admission 

 will probably be raised. The gratification which the rich museum of this 

 Society in Bruton Street, and their very interesting garden of living animals 

 in the Regent's Park, are calculated to afford to persons of leisure and curi- 

 osity, is so obvious, that we are surprised the members are not many times 

 more numerous than they are. We should have thought that, independ- 



