314; STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



zoology, by investigating the nature of those animals 

 whose remains lie buried in the accumulated strata 

 of the globe, and which, in most cases, present us 

 with forms of strange and unlooked-for structure. 

 The oral discussions of the geologists are proverbial 

 in the scientific world for the high intellectual gra- 

 tification they usually give to visiters. 



(221.) The constitution of the Zoological Society 

 is of a very mixed nature, admirably adapted, indeed, 

 to the reigning taste, and to uphold a very agreeable 

 and popular establishment, suited to the rational 

 amusement of the public. It is more calculated, 

 however, to diifuse than to increase the actual stock 

 of scientific knowledge. Itpossesses enormous funds ; 

 but it must not be forgotten, that for these funds it 

 is largely indebted to its popular arrangements. It 

 might perhaps combine, in a greater degree than it 

 does, the diffusion of a taste for natural history 

 with the permanent object of stimulating original 

 investigation. The objects of this society are best 

 expressed in the words of its prospectus ; wherein 

 " it is proposed to establish a society bearing the same 

 relations to zoology and animal life that the Horti- 

 cultural Society bears to botany and the vegetable 

 kingdom. The object is to attempt the introduc- 

 tion of new races of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, 

 &c. applicable to purposes of utility, either in our 

 farm-yards, gardens, woods, waters, lakes, or rivers, 

 and to connect with this object a general zoological 

 collection of prepared specimens." In a subsequent 

 notice it was intimated that a library would be at- 

 tached to the museum. It is clear, however, from 

 their present state, that the museum and the library 



