THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 443 



philosophy of the science, given by a society already 

 possessing a popular reputation, and awarded or dis- 

 tributed with all the " pomp and circumstance" 

 appropriate to such occasions ? Let these rewards 

 not be merely confined to the members of the 

 society, or even to British naturalists in general — let 

 them bear the stamp and dignity of that enlarged 

 and liberal policy which knows no distinction of 

 persons or of nations, — let them be thrown open to 

 the learned naturalists of all parts of Europe. Let 

 the greatest competition be excited. Let these prizes 

 become objects of ambition, not for their intrinsic 

 value, but for the scientific honour they would confer. 

 Then, and then only, will our zoological institutions 

 advance the true interests of science, instead of 

 limiting its office to the low standard of vulgar 

 minds, and the sole purpose of popular amusement 

 and recreation. 



(305.) It is impossible, in a society constituted 

 as this is, to make scientific acquirements a ne- 

 .cessary qualification for admission; nor would it, 

 indeed, be at all desirable. It would be quite 

 sufficient if there was but one society in Britain 

 where neither money nor interest could procure 

 admission — that should be the Royal Society, or a 

 new one. The Zoological might well continue on 

 their present footing in all things, but those upon 

 which we have just enlarged. By devoting one 

 half, or even one third, of its present revenue to the 

 promotion of true science, there would surely be 

 enough left to purchase amusement for the public ; 

 and the society, from being virtually a mere as- 

 sociation of amateurs for encouraging the import- 



