240 OBITUARY. 



president and treasurer to the Linnean Society; and that the Royal Society 

 did not enroll his name amongst its members, has always been considered 

 to reflect no dishonour upon hira, but on the contrary, to be deplored as 

 a loss to that great body, through the short-sighted tyranny of some 

 senseless formality. 



The worlcs which have chiefly distinguished Mr. Yarrell, are his "History 

 of British Birds," and his "History of British Fishes," upon which it would 

 be idle to say one word of comment, the public having awarded them their 

 meed of praise. He was the discoverer (in conjunction with Mr. Jesse) 

 of the fact that eels are viviparous, and the papers from his pen upon a 

 variety of subjects, all connected with natural science, are as able as they 

 are numerous; it will only be necessary to refer to a few of the most 

 prominent. In 1829 he published "'A description of a new species of Tringa 

 found in Cambridgeshire," in 1830, a paper on the "Organs of Voice in 

 Birds," and in 1833, "Observations on tlie laws which appear to influence 

 the Assumption and Change of Plumage in Birds;" in 1835, an ^'Account of 

 the Apteryx Australis" with "Some Observations on an Insect detrimental 

 to Turnips." About the same time was written an article entitled "A 

 Description of the Organs of Voice in a new species of Wild Swan," which 

 was communicated to the Linnean Society. Mr. Yarrell then produced a 

 paper entitled "A description of three new species of Fresh-water Fishes, 

 of the genus Leuciscus" and in 1853 a paper "On the Habits of the 

 Great Bustard." Most of the foregoing have been published in the annals 

 of different scientific societies; and during the present year an able article 

 from the same pen was published by the Linnean Society, "On the 

 Influence of the Sexual Organs in modifying External Character." 



It would exceed our limits even to refer to the various as well as 

 numerous productions from the pen of this distinguished naturalist; suffice 

 it to say that no vexata questio ever arose without some lucid and valuable 

 observations being made by him upon it, and unlike many talented men, 

 he was never led away by his fancy to advance anything, except upon 

 the most careful investigation, and consequently his productions have the 

 valuable quality of accuracy as well as style to recommend them. Among 

 these instances, it may be mentioned that we owe to him the identity of 

 the white-bait, and he had the honour of having his name attached to 

 more than one newly discovered species. 



A few years since Mr. Yarrell was attacked by severe indisposition, 

 from which he apparently recovered, but it is probable that the enemy 

 worked still within. Having gone to Yarmouth, he there expired suddenly^ 

 on Sunday the 31st. of August, of ossification of the heart, in the seventy- 

 second year of his age. 



"Peace be to his ashes." /^'ft-^-^^^^ 



