INTRODUCTION. 29 
HISTORY OF ZOOPHYTOLOGY. 
* Mankind must necessarily be diversified by various tastes, since life affords 
and requires such multiplicity of employments, and a nation of naturalists is 
neither to be hoped or desired; but it is surely not improper to point out a 
fresh amusement to those who languish in health, and repine in plenty for 
want of some source of diversion that may be less easily exhausted ; and to in- 
form the multitudes of both sexes who are burdened with every new day, that 
there are many shows which they have uot seen.” —Dr. Samuel Johnson. 
Dr. Samvuet Jounson, from whom the above is taken, with 
all his talent and with all his rich stores of knowledge, 
was not a naturalist, and few comparatively in his day 
had paid any attention to natural science. Very few in 
Great Britain had at that time any acquaintance with Zoo- 
phytology. It is little more than a century since it began 
to be regarded as a distinct department of natural science. 
Before entering on the History of British Zoophytes, it 
may be interesting and useful to give some general his- 
tory of the science, and a brief account of some of the 
naturalists to whom the science has chiefly been indebted. 
It was customary of old in Scotland to raise cairns as 
monumental remembrances of departed chieftains who had 
distinguished themselves in their day and generation, and 
