PREFACE. XI 



the individuals who, so far as I could leain, were the first 

 to notice the species of zoophyte to which their names are 

 respectively affixed, — following immediately the specific cha- 

 racter. This has been a pleasing inquiry. Smit with 

 the beauty — real or fancied — of the objects of his study, a 

 curiosity is naturally awakened to discover the name and 

 degree of the person who had first deemed it worthy of his 

 examination and participated in our pleasure, for we conclude 

 assuredly that he who had taken the trouble to record the 

 name and treasure up the object, was one of like mind, and 

 imbued with much of the same affections and dispositions as 

 ourselves. Some of them were found to be men of renown, 

 others, in whom I felt a deeper sympathy, are now forgotten, 

 their name and their labours swallowed up in the higher and 

 more enduring reputation of those whom they were honoured 

 to assist and delighted to serve. The genuine naturalist will 

 not censure this " fond attempt " to restore the faint traces of 

 men who had sought the best occupation of a leisure hour 

 in congenial pursuits and studies ; but rather will with me 

 lament the obscurity and shortness of their " simple annals." 



" Paullum sepultcc distat inertige 

 Celata virtus. Non ego te meis 

 Chartis inornatum silebo, 

 Totve tuos patiar labores 



Impune carpere lividas 



Obliviones."* — Hor. Carm. iv. 9. 



It was gratifying to remark that most of ray predecessors 

 in this field of inquiry, were members of the medical profes- 



* The first stanza in Shenstone's " Schoolmistress " may serve as a translation of 

 this passage : 



" Ah me ! full sorely is my heart forlorn, 

 To think how modest worth neglected lies : 



let me try 

 To sound the praise of merit, ere it dies, 

 Such as I oft have chanced to espy, 

 Lost in the dreary shades of dull obscurity." 



