PREFACE. vii 



zoophyte to which their names are respectively affixed, — foUow- 

 \ng immediately the specific character. 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 deem- 

 ed 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 sepultse distat inertiae 

 " Celata virtus. Non ego te meis 

 " Chartis inornatum silebo, 

 " Totve tuos patiar labores 



" Impune carpere lividas 



" Obliviones. * Hor. Carm. iv. 9. 



It v/as gratifying to remark that most of my predecessors in 

 this field of inquiry were members of the medical profession. 

 How largely natural science, in all its branches, has been in- 

 debted for its progress to this body is too notorious to be insisted 



* The first stanza in Shenstone's " School -mistress" 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." 



