8 ^ THE ZOOLOOIGAL SOCIETY. 



and that the suggestion made to Sir Humphry Davy has 

 been wrongly transferred to his predecessor, Sir Joseph Banks, 

 who was not referred to in this connection by Lady Raffles. 



On relinquishing the chair, on November 29, 1826, Mr. 

 Bicheno set the example of an annual address, deeming it 

 " both useful and respectful." On that occasion, " surrounded 

 by some of the leading zoologists of the kingdom," he gave 

 a sketch of the progress of their science during the period 

 of his presidency. He referred in a short paragraph to "the 

 Zoological Society recently instituted in London," but said 

 nothing about its foundation or the men who took part in 

 the work. 



Mr. Children followed the example thus set. Much of his 

 address is taken up with a description of the progress made 

 by the Zoological Society. In an account of its establishment 

 the following passage occurs: 



The spirit of its immortal founder [Sir Stamford Raffles] has gone 

 forth, and will not fail to light up in every heart, capable of exalted 

 feelings, some portion of that fire which animated his own ; some wish, 

 some sacred hope of treading, with however unequal steps, in the path 

 he has so zealously marked out for them. 



In Dr. Brookes's address there is no direct reference to the 

 foundation of tne Society, but there is incidental allusion to 

 Sir Stamford Raffles's gift of an example of the Rafflesian 

 squirrel* "to the museum of the Society which hails him 

 with just pride as its founder." 



The address of Mr. N. A. Vigors, the first Secretary and 

 the last Chairman of the Club, and the first Secretary of the 

 Zoological Society, is the most important, inasmuch as it 

 distinctly claims that the members of the Club were, to say 

 the least, co-workers with Sir Stamford Raffles. Mr. Vigors 

 took an active part in the original formation of the Club ; 

 and, to use his own words, "he pronounced its requiem," so 

 that he spoke with authority. Having detailed the circum- 

 stances which led " the few leading zoologists of whom we 



* This was described by Vigors and Horsfield in the Zoological Journal (iv. 

 112, pi. 4) as a new species under the name Sciurus rafflesii. It is now known that 

 the animal is the same as that described by Desmarest in 1820 as Sciurus prevosti. 



