288 Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle. 



and hence a check would, in this respect, be placed upon the 

 spirit of private speculation. Let us suppose, for instance, 

 that Mr. Gould, whose intention of visiting Australia was no- 

 ticed in a recent number of the Mag. Nat. Hist, had returned 

 to this country, contemplating the publication of a work, 

 which, instead of being restricted to the birds, should em- 

 brace the entire Zoology of that portion of the globe, would 

 he not, upon finding that two works of the same general na- 

 ture as his own, were being issued for the price of letter-press 

 and paper only, feel this circumstance an obstacle in the way 

 of his own success, unless he were conscious that his esta- 

 blished reputation as a naturalist, would ensure him a suffi- 

 cient sale to justify his risking the necessary outlay of capital ? 

 The works, it is true, could not be regarded in any way as 

 interfering with each other in their nature and object, as each 

 would refer to distinct parts of the world, but it is obvious 

 enough that in cases where the resources of public institu- 

 tions or of private individuals did not allow of their subscrib- 

 ing to all three, that the preference would be given to those 

 published under the patronage of the government. 



We make the above casual observations, without meaning 

 to express any decided opinion upon the merits of the ques- 

 tion, but rather with a view of directing attention to the 

 subject. 



The first public announcement of the treasures Mr. Darwin 

 was accumulating in the southern continent of America, is 

 still vividly fresh in our recollection ; and such of our read- 

 ers as were present at the Geological Society, on that even- 

 ing, will doubtless remember the great interest excited by 

 extracts from his letters, which were communicated to the 

 meeting by Professor Sedgwick. Since that time, Mr. Dar- 

 win's return to this country, and his residence in London, 

 have enabled him to take an active part in the scientific pro- 

 ceedings of that flourishing Society, where the proofs which 

 have been given of his talent, have more than realised the san- 

 guine anticipations indulged in by those, who, during his ab- 

 sence on the expedition, had the opportunity of becoming 

 acquainted with some partial details of the researches in 

 which he was so successfully occupied. Captain Fitzroy was 

 certainly most fortunate in meeting with a gentleman who has 

 shewn himself so admirably suited to carry his wishes into 

 effect, with regard to the scientific part of the expedition. — 

 Possessing a general and comprehensive knowledge of Na- 

 tural History, without entertaining so strong a predilection in 

 favor of some one branch of it, as might have led him to con- 

 centrate his observations upon that alone, to the exclusion of 



