14S 



Report on the Recent Progress and Presejit State of Zoology. 

 —By the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, 3I.A., F.L.S. F.Z.S. 

 F.C.P.S. 



The following Report has been drawn up at the request of the 

 Section for Natural History of the British Association. I can- 

 not but express my regret that the task has not devolved upon 

 abler hands. The science of Zoology comprises such a wide 

 field, and so much has been effected in that field by the researches 

 of modern times, that it is difficult for any individual to obtain 

 a correct knowledge of all that is going on in different coun- 

 tries in its several particular departments. Still more difficult 

 is it to form in all cases a true estimate of the relative import- 

 ance of the many facts and discoveries which are every day com- 

 ing to light, — to judge of their nuitual bearing on each other, 

 and their more or less immediate tendency to advance the pro- 

 gress of that science for the interests of which they are brought 

 forward. I must therefore hope for much indulgence from those 

 who may discover in this attempt, what it is almost impossible 

 to avoid, many errors as well as omissions*. I have endeavoured 

 to avail myself of whatever sources were open to me, in order to 

 obtain the information requisite for the purpose ; but so numer- 

 ous are the channels through which such information is now 

 published, that I can hardly hope to have gleaned on this sub- 

 ject all which may be expected of me. 



It is right, however, tlaat I should state in the outset, in what 

 point of view, and within what limits, I propose to consider this 

 subject. To follow it out in all its details would manifestly lead 

 me far beyond the bounds to which a Report of this nature must 

 necessarily be restricted. My intention, then, is principally to 

 notice those researches which of late years have tended to eluci- 

 date the characters and affinities of the larger groups of animals, 

 and thereby to advance our knowledge of their natural arrange- 

 ment. This will include the consideration of such systems as 

 have been brought forwards in illustration of this part of the 

 subject. With reference to this point, however, I do not pur- 

 pose commencing from an eai'lier period than 1817, the year of 

 publication oi the Regne Animal oi Cuv'iqv, whose general views 

 respecting the classification of animals have been the basis of 

 most of those which have appeared subsequently. I propose, 

 nevertheless, in the first instance, to make a few general remarks 



* I fear that these omissions will be found rather numerous, with respect to 

 German works, some of which I have been imable to procure, whilst there are 

 probably others altogether unknown to me. 



