Linneean Society, 465 



of this Society. He was one of the most generous contributors to 

 the fund for the purchase of the Linnaean Collections. 



Edward Turner Bennett, Esq., Sec. Zoological Society. — In allu- 

 ding to the death of Mr. Bennett 1 am strongly reminded of those 

 painful feelings with which the intelligence was first received; for 

 though his illness had excited alarm for a day or two in the minds of 

 some of his friends, and especially of those who were immediately 

 around him, it was generally unknown, so that the first intimation 

 which most of us received of it was that it had terminated fatally. 

 It was but a few days before that we had seen him in the enjoyment 

 of his usual health 3 and notwithstanding the apparent delicacy of his 

 constitution, from our having been accustomed to witness his un- 

 tiring devotion to his favourite pursuits, we had naturally been dis- 

 armed of all idea that his useful life was so soon to be brought to a 

 close. ^ 



I had not the honour of knowing him intimately, but it was im- 

 possible for any one who enjoyed even his casual acquaintance not to 

 be impressed with his intelligence, the gentleness of his manners, and 

 the unobtrusiveness of his character. 



The cordial interest he took in his zoological studies, the kindness 

 and the intelligence he displayed in answering the inquiries of others, 

 his ardour in the promotion of zoology, the animated sense he had of 

 the moral and intellectual enjoyment to be derived from it, the abs- 

 ence of all unworthy rivalry in his character, and the affectionate 

 esteem he was held in by those who were intimately associated with 

 him in his pursuits, were ample proofs of his excellence, and of how 

 serious a loss we have sustained in him as the friend and the na- 

 turalist. 



One of his intimate friends*, to whom I applied for some informa- 

 tion respecting his writings, says to me : "I can scarcely trust my- 

 self to speak of him in the terms that naturally present themselves 

 upon the recollection of all that was so good, so kind, and so talented 

 in his character. I believe I never knew a man in whom was com- 

 bined so much that was admirable and endearing. His duties as 

 Secretary to the Zoological Society were performed with such zeal, 

 talent, and extensive information as can never be forgotten by those 

 who had the opportunity of watching his labours and of acting with 

 him. His published works are not perhaps equivalent in importance 

 to his deservedly high character as a naturalist. His knowledge of 

 zoological literature was perhaps more extensive than that of any 

 other person in this country." 



The only paper which Mr. Bennett communicated to the Transac- 

 tions of the Linnaean Society was ** A notice of a peculiar property 

 in a species of Echinus," which forms a nidus for itself by effecting a 

 cavity in rocks off the coast of Clare in Ireland. His contributions 

 to the Zoological Journal were numerous, and nearly all the analyses 

 of zoological works contained in it were made by him. The Proceed- 

 ings of the Zoological Society from their commencement, and the 



* Thos. Bell, Esq., F.R.S. 

 Third Series. Vol. 10. No. G3. June 1837. 3 O 



