ported in such abundance, the animals which formed them 

 remained almost unknown to naturalists until the year 1829- 

 Previously, the animal had only been very imperfectly figured, 

 and still more imperfectly described, by a Dutch naturalist in 

 the 18th century, who had seen a living example. Cuvier 

 never saw a specimen of the animal, though greatly desiring 

 to do so. He prophetically said it would never gladden his 

 eyes, and they were closed in death, though but only a few 

 days (?) when the first specimen reaching Europe was sent to 

 Paris for his inspection. Subsequent critical examination 

 served to establish the existence of a character of the highest 

 importance, that of the possession by the Nautilus family of 

 double the number of gills found in any other family of the 

 class of animals to which it belongs, thus placing in a still 

 stronger light the difference in structure and relationships of 

 the numberless fossil species, for long periods, so abundant 

 upon the earth. 



Both these notable instances show how greatly even the 

 most advanced closet student depends for most important 

 material upon those who may be called, for distinction's sake, 

 field naturalists ; how greatly the latter may aid the former ; 

 with what a rich return in knowledge they may be repaid ; 

 and what a flood of light may result from the combined 

 labours of both. 



Again, the natural history of any class of animals cannot 

 be fully known until all the different species thereof are 

 ascertained ; how long each species has existed on the earth 

 or in the waters ; how widely it is distributed through the 

 same ; its habits, whether migratory or stationary, solitary or 

 gregarious ; its mode of reproduction and course of develop- 

 ment ; its seasonal and other changes ; its food and mode of 

 obtaining it ; its haunts ; its powers of offence or defence ; 

 the length of life of individuals ; and numerous other par- 

 ticulars. Only in proportion as these various facts are cor- 



