312 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



present council by presenting such a paper would 

 undeceive the members, more especially as such a 

 circumstance might possibly induce others to follow 

 the example. 



(219.) TheLinnaean Society of London, founded 

 by the late amiable and excellent Sir James Smith, 

 is not only the oldest, but the most honourable and 

 efficient, of those devoted to natural history. From 

 the date of its foundation, up to the present time, 

 it has annually given to the world a volume of 

 papers, unequal, indeed, in their respective merits, 

 as such collections must inevitably be ; but forming, 

 as a whole, the most valuable collection of essays in 

 this science in our language : it possesses an admir- 

 able library, partly formed by donations, and partly 

 by purchase. Their museum, also, although chiefly 

 lich in the birds of Australia (of which they possess 

 the most valuable collection in this country), is by 

 no means deficient in the productions of other 

 regions, and has been more particularly enriched by 

 the shells and insects of Sir Joseph Banks, the 

 Indian birds of General Hardwicke, and the nume- 

 rous presents of their late excellent and respected 

 secretary, Alexander Macleay, Esq. now (to the 

 great disadvantage of the society and of science at 

 large) filling an arduous and honourable situation in 

 the government of New Holland. All these scientific 

 treasures are thrown open to the investigation not 

 only of the members, but also of the associates : 

 for it is to the honour of this society that such an 

 accommodation is offered to those meritorious but 

 unwealthy men to whom the payment of 35/. would 

 be inconvenient ; or who find it impossible to extend 



