CASES IN POINT. 361 
venture to anticipate support from the aristocracy, 
or the wealthy of the land, by publishing a splendid 
volume of zoological plates, which, for the beauty of 
its execution should vie with those published at the 
national expense of France, his case, even if he 
succeed in getting royal patronage, is nearly the 
same. Some few of the court, and still fewer of 
the nobility, will give him encouragement; but he 
will be left not a gainer, but a severe sufferer, 
for his misplaced confidence in the public taste.* 
Such are the chief disadvantages attendant on 
the cultivation of zoology in Britain, and which, 
independent of the reasons before assigned, give to 
this science, in particular, especial claims to national 
encouragement. 
(249.) The consequences resulting from this state 
of things are such as might naturally be expected ; 
and they have been so feelingly described by the able 
writer in the “ Quarterly Review,” that we prefer 
quoting his own words. “ Since our scientific men, 
This work terminated with the fourth number; solely, as 
then stated, from the want of support to defray its actual ex- 
penses! yet of these memoirs it may truly be said, that they 
surpass in interest every thing that has appeared in this coun- 
try since the publication of the Hore Entomologice. The author 
makes a direct appeal to the Zoological Society for support, — a 
society of some 800 or 1000 members; yet, because 150 sub- 
seribers could not be found in the whole kingdom, these most valu- 
able essays, full of original information, have been discontinued ! 
had the author compiled some trumpery little volume, fit only for 
the penny press, the sale might probably have reached 5000! 
* We here more especially allude to the beautiful folio col- 
lection of figures of the Psittacide, or parrots, by Mr. Lear, a 
young and most promising zoological draftsman. 
