4.44. STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
ation of living animals, and exhibiting them to the 
public, would become the powerful and efficient 
promoter of zoological science, and be honoured and 
extolled throughout Europe. Opposed, as we always 
have been, to that illiberal feeling which the influence 
of one or two of its members have diffused over its 
councils, we firmly believe that a beneficial change 
has already begun its work. That when the swé- 
stance, and not the shadow, of scientific zoology will 
be better understood, the Zoological Society will 
realise all that its real friends and its supposed 
enemies can possibly desire. 
(306.) It is upon this, more than upon any other 
society, that the benevolent duty devolves of put- 
ting aside a small percentage from their funds for 
decayed naturalists, and their families. Zoological 
collectors, exploring wild and often unhealthy re- 
gions, are exposed, more than any other descrip- 
tion of men, to the chances of a premature death. 
It is fit, therefore, that an association like this 
should be mindful of men so deserving; and, 
should they have families, administer to their 
widows and their orphans some small support out 
of their abundant wealth. What “ golden opinions” 
might be gained from all men, if the society, for in- 
stance, set apart the shillings paid by the visiters to 
their museum, for the purpose of forming a charitable 
fund of this description! How cheerfully, for such a 
purpose, would visitors part with their money ; for 
how nobly would it be appropriated ! * ; 
* A case of peculiar distress is now before the scientific 
world. The late Rev. Lansdown Guilding, one of the first 
