^"°i9?i^'-l "The Times" on John Coidd. 121 



the collections of Europe, there was a new world open for ex- 

 ])loration. The commencement of the prospectus is as remark- 

 able for personal modesty as for liberality. A short (juotation 

 must suffice : — 



"The science of ornithology has now become so popular that it has 

 attracted within its influence the talents of many scientific men in 

 all parts of the world, and we find several of these hig-hly KJfted indi- 

 viduals eng:aged in illustrating particular portions of this interesting 

 branch of study. Thus, independently of his work on general science, 

 Mr. Swainson is engaged on the birds of Brazil and Western Africa; 

 Mr. Audubon on the birds of the United States of America; Dr. 

 Ruppell, of Frankfort, on those of Abyssinia; while the deservedly 

 celebrated M. Temminck is occupied upon the Birds of Japan, besides 

 adding yearly to the stores of science by recording new species in 

 his Planches Coloriees, and M. Natterer, after a residence of 16 years 

 in the Brazils, has just returned to Vienna with an exceedingly rich 

 collection of the zoological productions of that vast country, the novel- 

 ties comprised in which will in all probability be immediately known. 

 Thus, while we find the ornithology of almost every other portion of 

 the globe occupying the attention of various talented individuals, that 

 of Australia and its islands, although not forgotten, remains almost 

 unheeded." 



To the Birds of ^lustralia Mr. Gould now devoted all his 

 energies, and, after putting his plan into a tangible form, set 

 sail in May, 1838, for Australia. During his voyage he found 

 means of sending over to the Zoological Society many valuable 

 observations on the various sea birds, and their latitudinal range 

 respectively, which appeared in the Proceedings of the Zoological 

 Society. His notice of the Stormy Petrels (Thalassidronia) is 

 more peculiarly interesting, and will be found in Part VII., 1839, 

 page 139. But here Mr. Gould must speak for himself :- — 



"After exploring Van Diemen's Land, the islands in Bass's Straits, 

 South Australia, and New South Wales, into the interior of which 

 country I penetrated to the distance of nearly 400 miles from the 

 coastline, I despatched my able assistant, Mr. Gilbert, to explore the 

 Western and Northern portions of the country, and I'eturned to Eng- 

 land in 1840. I immediately commenced the work de novo, and the 

 result of my labours is now before the public." 



With respect to Mr. Gilbert, he adds : — 



"After spending two years in Northei-n and Western Australia, Mr. 

 Gilbert returned to England in 1841, bringing with him the result of 

 his labours, which proved of sufficient value and importance to induce 

 me to believe that much remained to be discovered in those countries, 

 and to direct him to return thither, which he accordingly did in the 

 ensuing spring, and after again visiting Swan River, and sedulously 

 exploring the interior as far as practicable, he proceeded to Sydney, 

 and, unfoi'tunately for himself, allowed his love of science, in the 

 advancement of which no one was more ardent, to induce him to join 

 Dr. Leichhardt in his overland journey to Port Essington." 



During the ex])edition his ])arty was treacherously attacked by 

 the natives, and he himself fell a victim. The specimens he had 

 collected, together with his notes and memoranda, were after- 

 wards recovered by Mr. Gould. 



Thus furnished with an unrivalled collection of subjects, to 

 which every day added fresh stores, and with a rich fund of 

 knowledge, the result of personal experience, Mr. Gould was 



