158 



PART III. • 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Natural History in London. 



The Zoological Society have commenced printing abstracts of their pro- 

 ceedings, in an octavo form, for distribution among the fellows, in the 

 manner of the Geological Society. The first of these papers, of sixteen 

 pages, now before us, commences with November the 9th, and terminates 

 with the sitting of December the 14th, 1830. 



On Nov. 9. Extracts from the Minutes of Council^ July 21. were read, as 

 follows : — " On a consideration of the advantages likely to accrue to the 

 Society, by cultivating an extensive correspondence on subjects of Natural 

 History ; it was resolved, that a committee be appointed, to be entitled 

 * The Committee of Science and Correspondence,' for the purpose of 

 suggesting and discussing questions and experiments in animal physiology, 

 of exchanging communications with the corresponding members of the 

 Society, of promoting the importation of rare and useful animals, and of 

 receiving and preparing reports upon matters connected with zoology. 

 That the Committee be requested, in the first instance, to prepare a report 

 upon the animals, for the importation of which it is most desirable that 

 the Council should take measures, whether for purposes of utility or exhi- 

 bition, under the heads of the several countries in which they are pro- 

 duced ; and pointing out the means which should be taken for their 

 preservation, either on the passage or after their arrival ; and, secondly, to 

 obtain all information possible upon the subject of the importation and 

 breeding of fish." 



On Oct. 6. " it was ordered, that the Committee of Science, nominated 

 at the Council of the 21st of July, should be requested to meet at the 

 Society's rooms, at eight o'clock on Tuesday the 9th of November, and 

 on every subsequent second and fourth Tuesday of the month. It was 

 also resolved, that the Committee should have power to add to their 

 numbers ; and that the members of the Council should be ex officio mem- 

 bers of the Committee." 



Extract from the Report of the Council^ Nov.^. 1830. "It has been 

 objected to the Council, that but little of theu* attention has been directed 

 to the advancement of zoological science; and the apology which they 

 have to offer is, that their time has been necessarily devoted to the very com- 

 plicated and extensive arrangements under which the formation of their 

 present establishments has been begun and accomplished. They have 

 latterly been particularly anxious to place the responsibility of detail upon 

 their salaried officers, so that their own time may be principally applied 

 to more general superintendence, and particularly to the encouragement 

 of scientific researches : they have, therefore, endeavoured to establish 

 meetings of such members of the Society as have principally applied 

 themselves to science; at which, communications upon zoological subjects 

 may be received and discussed, and occasional selections made for the 



