250 FOURTH REPORT — 1834. 



to those parts of the globe which have been least explored, and 

 aflFording the means of making known to the public the fruits of 

 their researches. France has long since set us an example in 

 undertakings of this nature. In the splendid volumes of zoology 

 annexed to the voyages of Captains Freycinet and Duperrey; in 

 the appropriation of a yearly sum for the sxipport of travelling 

 naturalists for the benefit of the Royal Museum, which mainly 

 to this circumstance owes its unrivalled celebrity * ; we see 

 marks of an anxious endeavour on the part of that nation to up- 

 hold the interests of this science. I will not say that in no in- 

 stance has anything of the kind been done here. Within these 

 few years we have seen a woi-k emanate from the British press, 

 the Fauna Boreali-Americana, under the immediate sanction 

 and patronage of our own government. I believe, however, it 

 is the first, wholly devoted to zoology, which ever appeared 

 under such auspices. And with respect to researches in foreign 

 lands, whatever may have been done for other sciences, or for 

 this science by private individuals, I apprehend we have effected 

 very little as a nation which will bear to stand in competition 

 with what has been done in this way by France, and some other 

 nations on the Continent which might be mentioned ■\. 



Such are the hints which, with much diffidence, I would ven- 



* M. D'Orbigny, who has been for these few years past exploring South Ame- 

 rica in the above capacity, has recently returned to Paris with rich and valuable 

 collections in all departments. He is said to have acquired no less than forty-six 

 new species of Mammalia alone, a surprising addition when we reflect that the 

 whole number before known scarcely exceeded 1200. (See L'lnsdt., No. 50.) 

 It was observed eight years ago, that " in the present advanced stage of informa- 

 tion, it cannot be expected that many new recent species oi Mammalia should 

 be discovered. > " M. D'Orbigny, however, has shown that even in this class 

 novelties are far from at an end to reward those who will go in quest of them. 



f Perhaps it may not be without its use, to call the attention of the members 

 of the British Association to the following proposition which was made and 

 adopted at the congress of French sawan* held at Caen, July 1833. It was resolved 

 " to encourage travels of discovery ; to recommend naturalists and all persons 

 interesting themselves in the progress of natural history, to organize these 

 kinds of travels by means of subscriptions, and to direct them towards those parts 

 of the globe which have been least explored." See Congres Scientif. de France, 

 1833, p. 261. I will not presume to say how far it would be practicable for 

 the British Association to set on foot any such project in this country. 



Since this Report was read, Mr. Swainson has published his Preliminary 

 Discourse on the Study of Natural History, in which he has treated, at some 

 length, of the Present State of Zoological Science in Britain as compared with 

 other countries. Without wishing it to be thought that I subscribe to every- 

 thing stated in that volume, I may refer to Part 4. as containing more ample 

 details in reference to this inquiry than it was possible for me to enter into. 



* Bicheno's Address (o the Zoolog. Club, 1826, p. 5. 



