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nation have been described and illustrated in books, by 
figures, equalling almost, in fidelity of colouring and out- 
line, the realities themselves. 
The Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland has, in 
an especial manner, been illustrated by coloured figures. 
The English Botany of the late Sir James Edward Smith 
and Mr. Sowerby, is, perhaps, the most complete flora 
that has ever been engraven of any country. Mr. Sowerby 
also illustrated the British Fungi, in three quarto volumes ; 
to which add Mr. Turner’s Fuci, Dr. Hooker’s Jungerman- 
nie, Dillwyn’s Conferve, Curtis’s great work, the Flora 
Londinensis, with many others which it might now be 
tedious to mention. By these the Botany of the British 
Isles has been illustrated in, perhaps, an unparalleled de- 
gree of perfection. 
In Zoology, I may mention Ray, Willoughby, Ellis, Pen- 
nant, Soverby, Montagu, Bingley, Bewick, Curtis, Stephens, 
and Selby. The ornithological work of the latter is a splen- 
did production ; while the birds, the fishes, the insects, and 
shells of Donovan, have never been surpassed. Our So- 
ciety is, as yet, too young to possess these magnificent 
works, but I hope we shail have them before a very dis- 
tant day. Every exertion should be made to obtain a copy 
of all books on British Natural History, that are of intrin- 
sic value ; and every member will, I hope, when they are 
acquired, be fully sensible of their value, and read 
and study them over and over. 
With respect to museums, I may now remark, that they 
are considered, on the Continent, of such importance, that 
scarcely any town of considerable size is without one. The 
apathy on this head, which so long existed in the British 
islands, is every day wearing off, and I trust this museum, 
when it comes into effective operation, will be cherished 
