~48 FOURTH REPORT 1834. 



want of it which detracts from the value of much that has been 

 recorded by those who have not sufficiently attended to this 

 matter. Hence it should be one object of a monograph to in- 

 vestigate species with a view to their exact differences, and to 

 elaborate the synonyms of those which have been noticed by other 

 authors. This is especially necessary in some groups, in which 

 great confusion exists on this head. Cuvier was particularly 

 sensible of the importance of this step. In his Histoire Naturelle 

 dcs Foissons it is impossible not to be struck with the care 

 which he has shown in endeavouring to trace every species to its 

 first describer, and to disentangle its synonymy, before proceeding 

 to other points in its history. No researches have been spared 

 which could throw any light on this part of his subject. Every 

 author has been consulted ; even the most ancient writers on 

 this branch of zoology he has had recourse to, under the hope of 

 being able to identify the species they have noticed. And he 

 has more than once observed in some other of his works, that 

 there is greater service done to natural history in thus extri- 

 cating from error and confusion the history of old species, than 

 in publishing and describing new ones. 



But not all have it in their power, from the want of requisite 

 materials, to furnish a complete monograph of any entire group. 

 Such persons may, notwithstanding, still contribute greatly to 

 the advance of zoology by restricting their monograph to the 

 species in their own neighbourhood : only let such works be 

 conducted with the same care, the same original observation 

 and research, which are thought necessary in the productions 

 just alluded to. Faulty catalogues, or even works of a more 

 elaborate kind, if merely compiled from other authors, are 

 utterly worthless. Whereas good local Faunas, or portions of 

 a Fauna, however limited the district, may be rendered of the 

 greatest possible value. By studying with scrupulous exactness 

 the structure and habits, although only of a few species, we 

 may be able to throw much light upon their natural affinities *, 

 we may accumulate enough facts to make some approaches 

 to generalization ourselves; at any rate we are amassing the 

 best materials for enabling others to do so. 



(2.) With reference to the further advancement of zoology 

 in this country in particular, I cannot forbear observing, that 

 while there are some branches of the science which are most 

 .sedulously cultivated by us, there are others, and those too such 

 as, from our insular position, it might be thought would be 

 aniong the first to attract our notice, which have for a long 



* Witness the researches of Thompson with respect to the Clrripedu. 



