ZOOLOGICAL DIAGRAMS. 97 



falls far short of that adopted by the majority of modern scientific natural- 

 ists. It is much to be regretted that in so excellent a series of diagrams 

 as the present, in which the figures of many of the animals are executed 

 with almost faultless accuracy, scarcely any use seems to have been made 

 of the advanced views propounded by our most distinguished zoologists. 

 One purpose of the diagrams as a most important educational instrument 

 is thu*s defeated. A high responsibility attaches itself to all who are in 

 any way concerned with the education of their younger or less enlightened 

 brethren ; much more to those who take a lead in devising those schemes of 

 education which are entrusted to others to be carried into execution. Their 

 very eminence causes their instructions to be listened to, when those of others 

 would be unheeded ; and if they convey false views of knowledge, or partial 

 notions of important truths, great, indeed, will be the injury thus inflicted 

 upon a large class of the community. With what difficulty are errors easily 

 implanted eradicated from the youthful mind ! How many have had to de- 

 vote a large portion of time and thought to unlearn what careless and in- " 

 competent teachers have but too successfully instilled. 



We have been thus critical in noticing these diagrams, not because we 

 think that their defects wholly counterbalance their merits, or that the 

 author has not rendered real service to the cause of natural history. The 

 well-known and deserved success of Mr. Patterson's " Zoology for Schools" is 

 a sufficient reply to such an insinuation. Nor would we be willing to sur- 

 render this much-cherished little volume for other works of far less utility, 

 but of more pretence. But we trust that in a new edition the errors which 

 we have referred to, both in the " Zoology" and " Diagrams," will be 

 amended. A trifling expenditure of time and trouble will be able to effect 

 this desirable alteration. To use the words of a former reviewer — " State- 

 ments now known to be erroneous continue to be given, without even (in 

 many cases) a foot-note to warn the reader of the changes of opinion which 

 are consequent upon the advance of zoological knowledge." We wait, then, 

 in hope for a speedy correction of all these objectionable passages. We 

 feel assured that an author who has already accomplished so much for 

 zoology will not be tardy to avail himself of these friendly suggestions. 

 And among the honourable names of those naturalists who have generously 

 laboured widely to diffuse the truths of the great science which they have 

 so successfully cultivated, few will be entitled to more lasting praise than 

 that of Robert Patterson. 



