OCCUPATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEN. 363 



eight universities of Great Britain, who is at present 

 known to be engaged in any train of philosophic re- 

 search. The two or, perhaps, three naturalists*, who, 

 during the last fifteen years, have ventured on such 

 classic but now deserted ground, have unfortunately 

 drawn back and relinquished their labours, disgusted 

 and disheartened at the indifference or neglect with 

 which their works have been received. There are 

 few who will bear up against wounded feelings 

 and pecuniary losses, even under the conviction 

 that they are writing for posterity rather than for 

 popularity. Zoology, like all other sciences, is com- 

 posed of isolated facts and general inferences. If 

 the latter are neglected, there remains only the 

 former : and these, being infinitely various, highly 

 curious, and perfectly comprehensible, are thrown 

 into amusing compilations, arranged under some 

 obsolete system, and are then given to the public as 

 specimens of " the science" of natural history. Such 

 is the low tone which this " science" now assumes, 

 merely because no one can be found to act up to 

 the recommendation long since given by the secre- 

 tary of the Linnsean Society, who points to the 

 absolute necessity that has arisen for generalising 

 the innumerable particulars of which the science of 

 zoology now- consists. There requires, indeed, a 

 concurrence of so many circumstances to favour en- 

 quiries of such a nature, — talents, time, experience, 

 and independence, — that it is in vain to expect they 

 will be prosecuted, if no sort of encouragement is 

 given to them either by the public or the nation. 



* M'Leay. Thompson. Horsfield. Annulosa Jav. 



