prospectus of 

 "THE ZOOLOGY OF SOUTH AFRICA." 



The Cape of Good Hope is now acknowledged to be one of the greatest avenues as yet opened for tlie 

 researches of the Naturahst. Our Colony in that part of Southern Africa is the key to a large portion of 

 an extensive continent which is still but very partially explored ; and the field to which it admits the 

 scientific traveller is rich to exuberance in the variety and novelty, both of animal and vegetable life. 



Stimulated by the prospect of Discovery in a quarter so fertile in interest, " The Cape of Good Hope 

 Association for Exploring Central Africa" was established in 1833 ; and in 1836, an Expedition fitted 

 out by that body, consisting of thirty-four persons, and directed by Dr. Smith, after an absence of 

 nineteen months, and penetrating as far as 23° 28' South latitude, returned to Cape Town laden with 

 a variety of curious and important specimens in Natural History, &c. 



Previously to this period little information has been furnished, in a shape calculated to enable the 

 public to form accurate ideas of the various animated beings by which these regions are inhabited. The 

 splendid publication of Le Vaillant, no doubt, should be mentioned as forming an exception, pro tanto; 

 but this includes only a portion of the Birds of the most southern extremity of the country, and a work 

 therefore extensive enough to comprehend the various departments of Zoology is still a desideratum. 



The Members of The Cape of Good Hope Association for Ej-ploring Central Africa found themselves, 

 on the return of the recent Expedition, in a situation to supply at least some portion of the existing 

 deficiencies ; but their funds, even if it had been possible to divert them to such an ol)ject, were altogether 

 inadequate to defray the expense of laying the result of their labours before the world. Under such 

 circumstances, it was decided that Dr. Smith, the director of the Expedition, should be authorised, on 

 his arrival in England, to wait upon Lord Glenelg, for the purpose of making him acquainted with 

 the position and views of the Society, in the liope that Government might be induced to assist in the 

 publication of their materials. 



This hope has not been disappointed. At the recommendation of the Secretary of State for the 

 Colonial Department, the Lords Commissioners of Her IMajesty's Treasury have been pleased, by a 

 pecuniary grant, to enable the Society to publish the result of its labours, without infringing upon the 

 funds raised solely for the purposes of discovery; and in a form wliicli, while it places the work 

 witliin reach of most of the friends and promoters of science, will not, it is hoped, be found inconsistent 

 with the interest and importance of the subject. 



The materials for tlie work now offered, under such patronage, to the public, will consist of pictorial 

 illustrations of between tlirce and four hundred subjects of the animal kingdom, all of which have been 

 collected to tlie south of 23° 28' South latitude ; and will comprise. 



First, and principally, unknown animals ; 



Secondly, animals known, but not yet figured ; and 



Lastly, such as have been imperfectly figured ; but of which the Society is in possession of accurate 

 drawings. 



The Entomological portion of the work will be from the pen of W. S. Macleay, Esq., who has 

 kindly undertaken that department. The rest of the descriptions will bo furnished by Dr. Smitli, who 

 will add a summary of African Zoology, and an inquiry into the Geographical ranges of species in that 

 quarter of the Globe. 



CTonliittonfl of yutltratton. 

 The AVork will appear in periodical parts, price ten shillings each ; and it is estimated that it wiU be 

 completed in about thirty-four parts. As it wiU be necessary that the plates be published promiscuously, 

 they will be arranged in five divisions, viz. Mammalia, Aves, Pisces, Reptilia, and Invertebrate. 

 The plates of each of these divisions will be numbered independently, and the letter-press descriptions left 

 unpaged, so that on the work being completed, they may be arranged eitlier agreeably to the general classified 

 order which will accompany the last number, or according to the particular views of the purchasers. 



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