Report on Zoology for 1834. 521 



groups, in which great confusion exists on this head. Cuvier 

 was particularly sensible of the importance of this step, .... 

 and he has more than once observed in some .... of his 

 works that there is greater service done to natural history 

 in thus extricating from error and confusion the history of 

 old species, than in publishing and describing new ones. 

 But not all have it in their power, from the want of requisite 

 materials, to furnish a complete monograph of any entire 

 group. Such persons may, notwithstanding, still contribute 

 greatly to the advance of zoology by restricting their mono- 

 graph to the species in their own neighbourhood : only let 

 such works be conducted with the same care, the same 

 original observation and research, which are thought neces- 

 sary in the productions just alluded to. Faulty catalogues, 

 or even works of a more elaborate kind, if merely compiled 

 from other authors, are utterly worthless; whereas good 

 local faunas, or portions of a fauna, however limited the 

 district, may be rendered of the greatest possible value. By 

 studying with scrupulous exactness the structure and habits, 

 although only of a few species, we may be able to throw 

 much light upon their natural affinities, we may accumulate 

 enough facts to make some approaches to generalisation our- 

 selves ; at any rate, we are amassing the best materials for 

 enabling others to do so. 



" With reference to the further advancement of zoology, 

 in this country in particular, I cannot forbear observing, that, 

 while there are some branches of the science that are most 

 sedulously cultivated by us, there are others, and those, too, 

 such as, from our insular position, it might be thought would 

 be among the first to attract our notice, which have for a 

 long time lain comparatively neglected. I allude to ichthy- 

 ology and the study of the marine Invertebrata 



With regard to marine Invertebrata, I refer more particularly 

 to the Radiata of Cuvier, although there is reason to believe 

 that our knowledge of the Mollusca is far below what it 

 might become by a more diligent enquiry into these tribes. 



In the several classes of Echinodermata, Acalepha, 



and Polypi, it is impossible to say what and how many 

 species are to be found on our shores, or what important 

 additions might not be made to our knowledge of these 

 groups, as parts of the natural system, by those whose 

 situation and opportunities afford the means of studying 

 them 



"While it is thus in our power to do much for this 

 science as individuals, I conceive it is also in our power to 

 Vol. VIII. — No. 53. oo 



