Anniversary Meeting of the Zoological Club. 219 
I have already adverted to the important accessions which 
British zoology ‘has gained within the last few years. In the 
Annulose animals, the accession has been most striking. Many 
years have not elapsed since it was recorded, as a subject of 
triumph, that three thousand species of insects had been ascer- 
tained to exist in the British Islands. The past year has pro- 
duced Mr. Stephens’s Systematic Catalogue of British Insects, in 
which ten thousand species are registered. A few of these 
species are doubtful, having been introduced into our cata- 
logues by the earlier collector s, who were not always scrupu- 
leas respecting the authority on which they pronounced an 
insect to be British. But the number of these is more than 
counterbalanced by the additions which have been supplied 
even since the publication of Mr. Stephens’s work; and we 
may now announce, with certainty, that above ten ‘cbse 
authenticated species of our native insects are to be referred to 
in that gentleman’s cabinet, or in the other chief collections of 
the metropolis. Our active colleague has been equally assi- 
duous, during the same period, in the publication of his Z//us- 
trations of British E ntomology, the thirtieth number of which 
has lately appeared. Mr. Curtis’s work, also, on British En- 
tomology, has maintained, without intermission, its regular 
monthly : appearance ; the last year producing twelve numbers. 
Six volumes of the work are now almost completed, in which 
figures of nearly three hundred genera are delineated, and 
about two thousand species are either indicated or degen ibed. 
I need not refer in this Society, all the members of which are 
familiar with the merits of the work in question, to the general 
excellence and scientific value of the plates which accompany 
it. 
It continues to be a subject of regret that the study of the 
animals belonging to the remaining groups of Radiata and 
A“crita has been so partially attended to in the country. The 
last year has produced little to compensate for the previous 
neglect. Still we have no reason to despair. ‘The general 
impulse given to the study of zoology, which has already 
caused the more prominent and appar rently i important grounds 
to be occupied, will ultimately force our “naturalists into the 
remoter and less cultivated fields. ‘The names of some * can- 
didates have indeed already appeared, as claiming possession 
of these departments. And from the sample, limited as it has 
* I must here mention the names of Dr. Grant and Dr. Fleming, as 
haying been conspicuous in former years in these departments. Much is 
expected from them. I wish I could add our friend Mr. Stokes to the 
number of those who are likely to have leisure to elucidate the present 
groups. No naturalist could do more ample justice to the subject. 
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