388 Obituary, 



strigatum (pi. 22. f. 21. of Wood's Index), of Cassis glauca and 

 others with varices. The Cassis ringens, or Cassis pomum, might 

 with more reason have been elevated into a type for a genus, 

 and named Dolium cassis, than the Cassis rufa named Cyprae- 

 cassis. It is to be hoped the general verdict will suffer both 

 to remain as they are, at least until a new Lamarck shall 

 supersede the present arrangement by one more consonant 

 with the gradations of nature, so different from the genera of 

 collections and authors. Nature, by small modifications, 

 passes from one group of beings to another : this S. Stutch- 

 bury, Esq., as a naturalist, sees, and instances the similarity of 

 the Cyprae s a and Cassis rufa in many particulars in which they 

 certainly do agree : but, unfortunately for his proposition, many 

 other genera also agree in the same particulars; for instance, 

 the Yet of Adanson. (See FHistoire Naturelle du Senegal, 

 pi. 3., for a figure of the animal ; pi. 4., for a figure of the Mar- 

 ginella; and pi. 5., for the Cyprae v a. All these cover the shell 

 with the mantle, and have, like the Cassis, no operculum ; so 

 that, if the principle of raising intermediate species were once 

 admitted, instead of a harmonious system, we should soon have 

 one of shreds and patches, contributed in piecemeal by each 

 observer ; and each patch might bear a compound name, such 

 as Buccina purpura; type, Buccina purpura patula. Purpura 

 planaxis ; type, Purpura planaxis persica, &c. The genus 

 never can be established. — E. Lewis. Kennington. 



Art. II. Obituary.* 



(From the London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine for June, 1837.) 



EDWARD Turner Bennett, Esq., Sec. Zoological Society. — In alluding to 

 the death of Mr. Bennett, I am strongly reminded of those painful feelings 

 with which the intelligence was first received ; for, though his illness had 

 excited alarm for a day or two in the minds of some of his friends, and 

 especially of those who were immediately around him, it was generally un- 

 known, so that the first intimation which most of us received of it was that 

 it had terminated fatally. It was but a few days before that we had seen 

 him in the enjoyment of his usual health ; and, notwithstanding the ap- 

 parent delicacy of his constitution, from our having been accustomed to 

 witness his untiring devotion to his favourite pursuits, we had naturally 

 been disarmed of all idea that his useful life was so soon to be brought to 

 a close. I had not the honour of knowing him intimately, but it was im- 

 possible for any one who enjoyed even his casual acquaintance not to be 

 impressed with his intelligence, the gentleness of his manners, and the 

 unobtrusiveness of his character. The cordial interest he took in his 

 zoological studies, the kindness and the intelligence he displayed in an- 

 swering the enquiries of others, his ardour in the promotion of zoology, 

 the animated sense he had of the moral and intellectual enjoyment to be 



* Read by Dr. Boot, Secretary to the Linnaean Society, at the Anni- 

 versary, May 24th, 1837, 



