24 



Linnean Societies, have all adopted the course of giving up 

 either the whole or the greater part of their collections. 



The Zoological Society began by restricting their collection, 

 which had been originallj' intended " as a general collection of 

 species," " to the illustration of genera only." This Ava^ in 1853 ; 

 and accordingly portions of the Museum were from time to time 

 disposed of as occasions offered. Subsequently, however, in 1857, 

 they determined to " dispose of the entire residue," in con- 

 sequence of the limited space in the Society's building, added to 

 the conviction that since '•' the remarkable development for some 

 years past of the Natural History department in the British 

 Museum," "a second Zoological Museum in London was 

 unnecessary. * 



In 18G3, the Entomological Society, though restricting its 

 inquiries to the single class of Insects came to the resolution of 

 parting with their entire collection, from the consideration that 

 their funds were insufficient to enable them to form such a 

 collection as should be "worthy of the Society, and for main- 

 taining the same in a satisfactory state." Their insects were 

 consequently all sold by public auction, with the exception of 

 the type-specimens, which ^vere transferred to the British Museum. 



The very same year the Linnean Society also came to the deter- 

 mination of parting with their Museum, with the exception of the 

 Herbarium, and other collections formerly' belonging to the 

 celebrated Linnaeus (the whole of which came into the possession 

 of the Society many years back), and a few other collections of 

 special value, mostly botanical. Of the collections parted with, 

 some were presented to the British Museum, others to public 

 bodies in the provinces or abroad, and the rest sold. 



Some parts of the statement put forth by the Council of the 

 Linnean Society, embodying the reasons for adopting this course, 



* Reports of the Council and Auditors of the Zoological Society of 

 London. 1853, 1856, 1857. 



