168 Notice of British Naturalists. 
The last writer upon British Testacea is Mr. Josuva Awper, 
of Newcastle upon T'yne, in the Transactions of the Natural His- 
tory Society of Northumberland and Durham. He describes 71 
species of land and fresh water shells as belonging to his neighbor- 
hood, many of which are new. 
We have thus traced the gradual progress of natural science, as 
connected with Great Britain, from the days of Ray to our own 
times. We have seen how by degrees it has gathered strength, 
and how accuracy and scientific power also advanced. We have 
likewise seen that nearly all which has been accomplished has 
been done by those who had higher and more important duties to 
fulfil, but who, when weary, refreshed their minds by the observa- 
tion of the works of God, instead of wasting in idleness or frivo- 
lous amusement, these their leisure hours. A complete account 
of the higher order of the zoology of that country, it is now i0 
_ the power of any one to possess; and as regards the mammalia 
and- birds, little probably remains to be added. But when we 
consider how each successive writer has thought that he had ex- 
hausted the stores of nature; how Ray supposed that the world 
did not contain above 150 species of beasts and reptiles, 50 of 
birds, and 500 of fishes, although now, in our own days, we have 
described 1200 species of mammalia, 6500 of birds, 8000 fishes, 
and 1500 reptiles, we may justly suppose and hope, that maby 
more both of shells and fishes may be added to the list of the 
British Fauna. And as regards the United States we may lear 
how much is to be accomplished ; although much has been done, 
and from what we do know, we may be incited to additional en- 
deavors. Of this we may be assured, that as this study becomes 
more popular, so shall we see the mind of the people improving; 
simplicity of heart, and love of the works of God multiplied ; 4" 
a thousand intellectual pleasures opened to those who, under 
Providence, are obliged to spend a larger part of their lives in har- 
rassing and fatiguing employments. We shall find that this 
study forms a bond of union between the lower and the highet 
classes of society,—the practical mechanic and the man of scl 
ence ; that it increases human happiness, by enlarging the sphere 
of intellectual pleasure; for every new development of intelli- 
gence is a source of pure enjoyment. The bond of union will 
be the love of knowledge. ‘There is an equality in science, for 
the great requisite is not the amount of information, but the 4 
sire to be informed. - 
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