4.4.0) STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
the members. This plan would, in all probability, 
diminish the expense to one half, and the society 
might have its menagerie recruited by its own 
officers direct, instead of paying large sums with 
the accumulated profits of many intermediate 
dealers ; so that finally it might be reasonably ex- 
pected, that this plan would aa but very little to 
the present expenditure of the society, in purchasing 
their animals through the instrumentality of several 
agents. The museum, also, would be thus acquir- 
ing a constant accession of new and imteresting 
objects, unprocurable by any other means. In a 
few years, instead of the present poor collection in 
Bruton Street, altogether unworthy both of the 
name and the funds oi the society, it might have a 
museum to which the public would willingly pay 
for admittance, and feel satisfied with a payment 
which, at present, is certainly too high. Materials 
being thus provided, let them be turned to good use. 
If the society be unwilling to embark in publishing 
them in a complete and scientific form, let the 
museum be opened, without vexatious restrictions, 
to all who are disposed to take such risk or expense 
upon themselves, no matter whether they be Fellows . 
or not. The very least that can be done, in the way 
of liberality to scientific men, is, to give them the 
facility of doing that which the society declines, 
and which so very few individuals have either the 
_ disposition or the talents to accomplish. It savours — 
of that narrow and despicable spirit which is now 
fortunately so rarely to be met with,—to turn a 
museum into a scientific preserve, where none but 
the members are allowed to hunt for information. 
