1864. | Zoology and Botany. 749 
them were some Ammonites resembling Ceratites, bivalve shells 
resembling liassic and triassic species of Pholadomya, and others 
having similar peculiarities. Some of these have lately been found 
in Africa. 
Zootoay AND Botany. (Section D.) 
President's Address.—Galton on Domestication of Animals.—Gibb on 
the Larynx of the Negro.—Crisp on the Anatomy of the Quadrumana. 
—Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine.-—Cobbold on Entozoa.— 
Davy on Salmonide.—Buckland on the Oyster.—Lankester on the 
Karthworm. 
In his address, the President, Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., entered in the 
first place into an inquiry as to the best plan to be pursued to make 
museums of natural history most useful both to the general public and 
the scientific student. For the former he considered that a collection 
of the more interesting objects was required, so as to afford the greatest 
possible amount of information in a moderate space, and, instead of 
crowding together a number of specimens of a given genus on the 
shelves, characteristic specimens should be selected and distinctly 
labelled, and the purpose for which it was prepared and exhibited 
should be specified; the economic uses to which it is applied should 
also be given. For the scientific student he considered that instead 
of stuffing and mounting the specimens, they could be much more 
efficiently examined by properly arranging them in drawers and boxes, 
which would at the same time ensure economy of space. 
He then entered into the question of the acclimatization of animals. 
This term has been employed to express the domestication of wild 
animals, the introduction of the domestic animals of one country into 
another, and the cultivation of fishes by the restocking of rivers, ponds, 
&e., already exhausted. He did not think that any of the wild ani- 
mals which it was proposed to domesticate could compete in feeding 
and fattening qualities with our present races of domestic cattle. And 
though Asiatics have been able to draw largely upon the wild animals 
around them, yet these are but little suited for our northern climate. 
He pointed out that it would be advisable to try, in attempting to in- 
troduce new domestic animals into our Colonies, if some of the 
domestic races of Asia or Africa might not be better adapted to their 
climates than many European breeds. He did not regard very hope- 
fully the attempt to introduce salmon into the Australian rivers, for 
during a considerable part of each year they are reduced to stagnant 
pools. The deep rapid rivers of Tasmania he looked on as much 
more promising. The Acclimatization Society of Australia ought 
rather to strive for the introduction of the gouramy, or some other 
edible fish of the countries nearer to and more resembling their own. 
A paper of considerable interest was read by Mr. Francis Galton, 
_F.RS., entitled “ First Steps towards the Domestication of Animals.” 
VOL, I. 3E 
