42 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 



He wished the rudiments of the study to be universally introduced into 

 Bchools, and the science, in its higher grades, to form a regular part of 

 the curriculum of our Colleges. His wishes were in part fulfilled, and 

 he had, in more than one capacity, the high gratification of aiding in 

 their advancement. 



In connexion with this subject should be mentioned his views for 

 the improvement of our fisheries. The first step, in his opinion, was 

 to give a special education to the fishermen themselves. He considered 

 that a knowledge on their part of the habits and economy of fishes, and 

 of the creatures on which they feed, was indispensable ; and he there- 

 fore urged that the aid of zoological science should be secured so as to 

 make our fishermen thoroughly acquainted with their calling, and to 

 render the fisheries themselves productive and profitable. 



A passing reference has been made to the ingenuity apparent in the 

 structures erected in the Zoological Gardens, and in many of its arrange- 

 ments. The tent-like house for the splendid specimen of the Plesiosaurus, 

 the plan of the building containing the aquatic vivaria, and the simple 

 method employed for aerating the tanks, are obvious examples. Fer- 

 tility of device was one of Dr. Ball's mental characteristics, and it was 

 continually manifesting itself in a great diversity of forms. It was, in 

 fact, a very Proteus in its aspect. At one time it was a plan to prevent 

 the evaporation of spirits from glass vessels ; at another, that of securing 

 to his capacious fernery a regular supply of moisture. To-day it was the 

 making of a naturalist's dredge, so efficient that it was used by Edward 

 Forbes* in the JEgean ; to-morrow it was the restoration of the Harp 

 of Brian Boroimhef by the collocation of its severed portions. Among 

 his many inventions was the use of naptha as the medium for colours 

 to be used for zoological diagrams. He found by this plan the draw- 

 ings could be' executed much more rapidly, and that they possessed an 

 increased brilliancy of colour. In 1849 he communicated this to Mr. 

 Tuffen "West, the eminent artist, who chanced at that time to be resident 

 for a few weeks in Dublin. That gentleman tried the plan, and has 



* A letter to a friend from the late Professor Forbes, written when engaged with 

 Captain Graves in the Mgean, says, in speaking of the results he attained, " Tell Ball 

 that but for his dredge this could not have been accomplished." It is described in Harvey's 

 excellent " k Sea-side Book." 



•f A description of this harp was printed by^Dr. Ball. 



