xviii MEMOIR OF THE LATE 



Ever since I myself began the study of 

 natural history I have always endeavoured to im- 

 press the necessity of turning it to account for 

 the benefit of mankind. I first coined the term 

 " Practical Natural History," an idea which was at 

 first much derided, but which has now become fully 

 recognised, in which I was greatly supported by my 

 friend Mr. Henry Lee, of The Waldrons, Croydon. 

 Mr. Austen's mind was of a most practical turn ; 

 his observations of the habits of toads and frogs 

 enabled him to advise in a matter which at first 

 sight does not appear to be of very great import- 

 ance. I refer to his advice on the question of 

 sending toads to New Zealand (where they are 

 greatly needed), as now recorded at p. 129, for the 

 information of those colonists who wish to benefit 

 New Zealand by the introduction of an apparently 

 useless, and I fear much despised, reptile. 



His discovery that water-shrews are fish-eaters 

 has proved of great use to the, I am glad to say, 

 numerous breeders of salmon and trout by arti- 

 ficial means. Precautions to prevent water-shrews 

 killing the fry are now taken, since the time 

 that Mr. Austen's remarks were published. 



When instituting experiments on the breeding of 

 oysters at Keculvers, near Herne Bay, with Mr. 

 Henry Lee, our mutual friend Austen frequently 

 came down to assist at and watch our proceedings. 



