394< STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



that a better spirit has begun to show itself; and 

 that, during the enlightened administration of Lord 

 Goderich, Europe, for the first time, beheld the go- 

 vernment of this country giving to the world the 

 fruits of her zoological discoveries. But to do this 

 effectually, a more liberal system must be adopted 

 in the outset. Our present method (certainly a very 

 economic one) is to impose the duties of " naturalist" 

 upon some one of the regular officers of the vessel ; 

 at a time when such duties, to be effectually per- 

 formed, would require the undivided attention of 

 three or even four persons, each taking different de- 

 partments, and all requiring the assistance of a pro- 

 fessional artist. It is not enough that the naturalists 

 of such expeditions should bring home stuffed skins, 

 dried bones, or things in spirits ; for such duties can 

 be done by the sailors themselves. It is not a know- 

 ledge of dead skins, but of living creatures, that we 

 now want. It is an acquaintance with the internal 

 structure of animals, and the true shape of the soft 

 Mollusca (which latter are lost or distorted the mo- 

 ment they are plunged into spirits), that will effec- 

 tually advance zoological science. Now all this in- 

 formation can only be acquired by studying and 

 drawing the animals when fresh ; and it therefore 

 follows, that such researches and duties can only be 

 made and done by experienced naturalists and pro- 

 fessional draftsmen. Here it is that the government 

 of France, from possessing scientific advisers, has 

 gained the highest credit, and has done more to ad- 

 vance the knowledge of invertebrated animals than 

 any other nation whatsoever. All their expeditions 

 have been accompanied by experienced zoologists, 



