THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 443 
philosophy of the science, given by a society already 
possessing a popular reputation, and awarded or dis- 
tributed with all the “pomp and circumstance” 
appropriate to such occasions? Let these rewards 
not be merely confined to the members of the 
society, or even to British naturalists in general —let 
them bear the stamp and dignity of that enlarged 
and liberal policy which knows no distinction of 
persons or of nations, —let them be thrown open to 
the learned naturalists of all parts of Europe. Let 
the greatest competition be excited. Let these prizes 
become objects of ambition, not for their intrinsic 
value, but for the scientific honour they would confer. 
Then, and then only, will our zoological institutions 
advance the true interests of science, instead of 
limiting its office to the low standard of vulgar 
minds, and the sole purpose of popular amusement 
and recreation. 
(305.) It is impossible, in a society constituted 
as this is, to make scientific acquirements a ne- 
cessary qualification for admission; nor would it, 
indeed, be at all desirable. It would be quite 
sufficient if there was but one society in Britain 
where neither money nor interest could procure 
admission — that should be the Royal Society, or a 
new one. The Zoological might well continue on 
their present footing in all things, but those upon 
which we have just enlarged. By devoting one 
half, or even one third, of its present revenue to the 
promotion of true science, there would surely be 
enough left to purchase amusement for the public; 
and the society, from being virtually a mere as- 
sociation of amateurs for encouraging the import- 
