REPORT ON ZOOLOGY. 249 



time lain comparatively neglected. I allude to Ichthyology 

 and the study of the marine Tnvertebrata. I need scarcely say 

 how small is the number of individuals who have added any- 

 thing recently to our knowledge of the fish even of our own seas, 

 notwithstanding the opportunities for so doing which daily 

 present themselves to naturalists resident on the coast. The 

 fact has been repeatedly noticed. With regard to marine In- 

 vertebrata, I refer more particularly to the Radiata of Cuvier, 

 although there is reason to believe that our knowledge of the 

 Mollusca is far below what it might become by a more diligent 

 inquiry into these tribes. Excepting the important researches 

 of Dr. Grant and Mr. Thompson, excepting also a few detached 

 papers by Drs. Fleming and Coldstream, and more recently by 

 Dr. Johnston *, we have hardly any original observations with 

 respect to the radiated animals since the time of Montagu f- 

 In the several classes of Echinodermata, Acalepha^ and Polypi, 

 it is impossible to say what and how many species are to be 

 found on our own shores, or what important additions might 

 not be made to our general knowledge of these groups, as parts 

 of the natural system, by those whose situation and opportuni- 

 ties afford the means of studying them. As a striking illustra- 

 tion of what might be done, it is only necessary to look to the 

 results obtained by two French naturalists % (whose example 

 deserves to be imitated) during a series of annual excursions 

 to different parts of their own coast. There is no occasion to 

 specify these results in detail. Many, of the greatest possible 

 interest and importance to zoology, have been already alluded 

 to in former parts of this Report. I may, however, just state 

 the fact, that on their return from the Chausey Islands, which 

 were selected one season as the scene of their researches, they 

 enriched the Paris museum Math upwards of 600 species of 

 marine Invertebrata, of which at least 400 were considered by 

 them as either entirely new, or before imperfectly understood §. 

 While it is thus in our power to do much for this science as 

 individuals, I conceive it is also in our power to do something 

 as a nation ; and in no respect more than by encouraging and 

 promoting expeditions to foreign countries, deputing naturalists 



* This gentleman has hately published a useful paper on the recent Zoo- 

 phytes found on the coast of North Durham, in the Trans, of the Newcastle 

 Natural History Society. 



t I should also make an exception of Mr. Graham Dalyell, whose researches 

 on Scottish Zoophytes were brought forwards at the same meeting as when this 

 Report was read. These, however, have not yet been published in detail. 



X M.M. Audouiii and Edwards. 



§ Cuvier's Anal, dts Travaitx, 1828. 



