(144 Notice of British Naturalists. 
or a Dutchman, and Gardener to King Charles I, of England. 
He travelled over a great part of Europe and Asia Minor, and into 
Barbary, Greece, and Egypt; chiefly with a view of improving 
himself in natural science. He introduced a considerable num- 
ber of exotic plants into England, and was the first to prove that 
they might be rendered useful, and made to thrive by due culti- 
vation. He was followed in his pursuits by his son, John, who 
inherited the museum, and to which he made considerable addi- 
tions. On his death it was sold to Mr. Ashmole, “the greatest 
virtuoso and curioso that was ever known or read of in England.” 
We may form some idea of what it contained from the “ Museum 
Tradescantianum,” a catalogue of it, published in 1656, and 
which is divided into the following heads: 1. Birds with eggs. 
2. Four footed Beasts. 3. Fish. 4. Shells. 5. Insects. 6. Min- 
erals. 7. Fruits, Drugs, &c. 8. Artificial curiosities. 9. Mlis- 
cellaneous curiosities. 10. Warlike Instruments. 11. Habits. 
12. Utensils and household stuff. 13. Coins. 14. Medals. 
Isaac Walton likewise makes mention of some of its contents in 
his Complete Angler (part I, chap. I). “I know we Islanders 
are averse to the belief of these wonders; but there be so many 
strange creatures to be now seen, many collected by John Trades 
cant, and others added by my friend, Elias Ashmole, Esq., who 
now keeps them carefully and methodically arranged at his house 
at Lambeth, near London, as may get some belief of some of the 
wonders I mention. I will tell you some of these wonders that 
you may now see, and not till then believe, unless you think fit. 
‘ou may see there the Hog-fish, the Dog-fish, the Dolphin, the 
Coney-fish, the Parrot-fish, the Sword- fish and not only other in- 
credible fish, but you may there see the Salamander ; several sorts 
of Beannelas: of Solan Geese ; the Bird of Paradise ; such sort of 
— and gach birds’ nests, and of so various s forms, and so woll- 
ae 
* Reamur, the celebrated French Naturalist was the first person who formed an 
or oa ceoeecton of ani nals i in France. He was born in 1683 and died in 17573 
that sting was nearly the same as in England. The 
chs known Brisson, who was the keeper of his Museum, derived from it the prin- 
cipal materials for his work on quadrupeds and birds. These last afterwards con 
stituted the basis of the Royal Museum at Paris. The earliest considerable Muse- 
um in this country owes its origin tothe late Mr. Peale of Philadelphia. In this 
museum was first seen a complete skeleton of the mastodon. Many of Wilson ® 
birds, and not a few of the animals procured in the Rocky Mountains, being ® also 
there, it has become classical from the frequent reference to these and other speci 
aoe 
