On general Zoological changes. 65 



I am making other experiments, and should they be crown- 

 ed with success, shall do myself the pleasure of communicat- 

 ing the result to the same illustrious Academy. Should my 

 want of knowledge relative to the object of these observations 

 have made me consider my experiments new, I trust, even if 

 they prove otherwise, that I shall receive indulgence, as be- 

 ing deprived of the means of gaining such information, as 

 would have enabled me to ascertain the fact. 



[It was in one of the cages spoken of in the preceding communication, 

 that Madame Power placed the Argonauts, after having removed certain 

 portions of the shell ; and though, unfortunately, the circumstance of this 

 lady's very slight acquaintance with comparative anatomy and physiology, 

 renders her observations of less importance than they might otherwise have 

 been, yet there is every reason for believing, that experiments conducted in 

 the manner which she has suggested, may satisfactorily determine whether 

 or not the species of the genus Ocythoe, are the true constructors of the 

 shells which they inhabit. Ed.] 



Art. III. On the influence of Man in modifying the Zoological 

 Features of the Globe ; with statistical accounts respecting a few 

 of the more important species. By W. Weissenborn, D. Ph. 

 {Continued from p. 18) 



A circumstance which concerns us more especially, and 

 which, in most European countries, has broken in upon the 

 harmonious manner in which the condition of the tame, as 

 well as of the wild animals, might have been regulated under 

 the influence of a monarchical form of government, is the pe- 

 culiar complication of the feudal system ; a political theory, 

 according to which, the liege lord was considered as the ori- 

 ginal proprietor of a whole country, the divisions and subdi- 

 visions of which were entrusted to vassals, sub-vassals, and 

 tenants, on conditions, which were the more arbitrary and 

 oppressive, in proportion as the removes became more distant 

 from the head of the system. This state of things would, of 

 course, restrict the free use of property, both as relates to the 

 domesticated animals, and those of a wild nature, in a manner 

 quite at variance with sound principles of political economy, 

 even after the feudal system had ceased to be the foundation 

 on which the security or existence of the kingdoms once rest- 

 ed. Thus, from the time when that system began to lose its 

 importance to the nations at large, its laws relating to the 

 management of animals, have more and more taken the form 

 of oppressive measures or public nuisances ; which, however, 

 are now gradually disappearing, and in many German coun- 



