394 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
that a better spirit has begun to show itself; and 
that, during the enlightened administration of Lord 
Goderich, Europe, for the first time, beheld the go- 
vernment of this country giving to the world the 
fruits of her zoological discoveries. But to do this 
effectually, a more liberal system must be adopted 
in the outset. Our present method (certainly a very 
economic one) is to impose the duties of “ naturalist” 
upon some one of the regular officers of the vessel ; 
at a time when such duties, to be effectually per- 
formed, would require the undivided attention of 
three or even four persons, each taking different de- 
partments, and all requiring the assistance of a pro- 
fessional artist. It is not enough that the naturalists 
of such expeditions should bring home stuffed skins, 
dried bones, or things in spirits; for such duties can 
be done by the sailors themselves. It is not a know- 
ledge of dead skins, but of living creatures, that we 
now want. It is an acquaintance with the internal 
structure of animals, and the true shape of the soft 
Mollusca (which latter are lost or distorted the mo- 
ment they are plunged into spirits), that will effec- 
tually advance zoological science. Now all this in- 
formation can only be acquired by studying and 
drawing the animals when fresh; and it therefore 
follows, that such researches and duties can only be 
made and done by experienced naturalists and pro- 
fessional draftsmen. Here it is that the government 
of France, from possessing scientific advisers, has 
gained the highest credit, and has done more to ad- 
vance the knowledge of invertebrated animals than 
any other nation whatsoever. All their expeditions 
have been accompanied by experienced zoologists, 
