DISTINGUISHED NATUEALISTS KECENTLY DECEASED. 577 



tific expeditions and missions, and lately, after many yeai-s' strenuous 

 exertion, induced almost all our Indian and Colonial Governments 

 to employ botanists upon the publication of tlieir Eloras. 



Mr. Hugh Cuming, tlie well-known Conchologist, died at bis 

 residence in Gower Street, on the 10th of August last, at the age of 

 74. Mr. Cuming was born at West Alvington, Kingsbridge, in the 

 county of Devon, on the 14th of February, 1791. Even as a child his 

 love of plants and of shells displayed itself in a remarkable manner; 

 and under the friendly patronage and encouragement of Col. Montagu, 

 the celebrated author of " Testacea Britanniea,'* who resided in the 

 neighbourhood, it was largely fostered and developed. Apprenticed 

 to a sail-maker, he was brought into contact with seafaring men, and 

 in the year 1819 made a voyage to South America, and settled in 

 business at Valparaiso. Here his passion for collecting shells found 

 an ample field for its development, and was greatly stimulated and 

 assisted by the English Consul, Mr. Nugent, and by several officers 

 of the British Navy ; among others, by Lieut. Erembly and the 

 officers of the surveying ships under the command of Capts. King 

 and EitzEoy. In 1826 he gave up his business in order to devote 

 himself wholly to his favourite pursuit. A¥ith this object he built a 

 yacht, expressly fitted for the collection and stowage of objects of 

 Natural History ; and a cruise of upwards of twelve months among 

 the islands of the South Pacific amply rewarded him for his toils in 

 dredging and collecting by sea and shore. On his return to Valpa- 

 raiso, he prepared for a voyage of more extended duration along the 

 western coast of America ; and his reputation being now widely 

 extended, he started under peculiar advantages. The Chilian 

 Government granted him the privilege of anchoring in its ports free 

 of charges, and of purchasing stores free of duty, and he was 

 furnished with letters to the authorities of all the States which he 

 visited, who, in consequence, received him with marked attention, 

 and gave him every possible facility. 



After two years spent in exploring the coast from the Island of 

 Chiloe, in lat."^ 41° S., to the Gulf of Conchagua, in lat. 13° N., 

 dredging, while under sail and at anchor, in the bays and inlets, 

 searching among the rocks, turning over the stones at low water, and 

 rambling inland over the plains, river banks, and woods, Mr. Cuming 

 returned with all his accumulated stores of plants and animals to 

 his native land. The Zoological Society had just previously been 



