334 Decline of Science in England. 



which it belongs, (see his Manuel d'Omithologie, vol. i. p. Iv. 

 note (3),) remarks, that " toutes les especes sont de Tancien 

 continent, le plus grand nombre d'Afrique." 



I have named this splendid bird in compliment to that dis- 

 tinguished and disinterested naturalist, N. A. Vigors, Esq. who 

 politely directed my attention to it as a species new to ornitho- 

 logists. 



In detailing those peculiarities of structure which characte- 

 rize the genus Lamprotornis, M. Temminck says of the toes, 

 " Tinterne soude a sa base, Texterne divise, 11 {Manuel d'Orni- 

 thologie, vol i. p. lvi.) the very reverse of what is actually the 

 case. This error, which probably originated in inadvertency, 

 has been recently repeated by a celebrated French zoologist ; it 

 becomes the more desirable, therefore, that it should be cor- 

 rected. 



Art. XXII. — Observations on a Pamphlet, entitled, " On the 

 Alleged Decline of Science in England. By a Foreigner. 

 London, 1881, Pp. 33." Accompanied by a Preface by M. 

 Faraday, Esq. F. R. S., &c. 



" It would be unwise in a foreigner to give an opinion on matters which 

 he cannot be expected to understand." — Pamphlet, p. 16. 



The present dispute respecting the Decline of Science in 

 England, presents to us the rare and almost ridiculous feature, 

 never before exhibited in literary controversy, of all the com- 

 batants on one side coming openly forward with their names, 

 and pledging their public characters for the truth of their facts 

 and statements ; while cdl those on the other side are anony- 

 mous assailants, fighting behind black crape, or discharging their 

 missiles from the masked batteries of magazines and reviews. 

 Sir H. Davy, Mr Herschel, Mr Babbagc, Sir James South, 

 and Professor Leslie, have all lamented,, in powerful and elo- 

 quent terms, the decline, and ineffective state of science in 

 England ; — and though their allegations have been deemed by 

 ignorant and interested individuals, injurious to the honour 

 of the country, yet not one man bearing the name either of a 

 philosopher, or even of the lowest grade of authorship, has 

 ventured to place his name and personal character in opposition 



