$14 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
zoology, by investigating the nature of those animals 
whose remains lie buried in the accumulated strata 
of the globe, and which, in most cases, present us 
with forms of strange and unlooked-for structure. 
The oral discussions of the geologists are proverbial 
in the scientific world for the high intellectual gra- 
tification they usually give to visiters. 
(221.) The constitution of the Zoological Society 
is of a very mixed nature, admirably adapted, indeed, 
to the reigning taste, and to uphold a very agreeable 
and popular establishment, suited to the rational 
amusement of the public. It is more calculated, 
however, to diffuse than to increase the actual stock 
of scientific knowledge. Itpossesses enormous funds ; 
but it must not be forgotten, that for these funds it 
is largely indebted to its popular arrangements. It 
might perhaps combine, in a greater degree than it 
does, the diffusion of a taste for natural history 
with the permanent object of stimulating original 
investigation. The objects of this society are best 
expressed in the words of its prospectus ; wherein 
“it is proposed to establish a society bearing the same 
relations to zoology and animal life that the Horti- 
cultural Society bears to botany and the vegetable 
kingdom. The object is to attempt the introduc- 
tion of new races of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, 
&e. applicable to purposes of utility, either in our 
farm-yards, gardens, woods, waters, lakes, or rivers, 
and to connect with this object a general zoological 
collection of prepared specimens.” In a subsequent 
notice it was intimated that a library would be at- 
tached to the museum. It is clear, however, from 
their present state, that the museum and the library 
a 
