Foundation of the Zoological Club. 3 



me if I have made an overcharged statement, — have been de- 

 scribed as British. What is the cause of this difference between' 

 the two sister sciences ? It has happened, because perhaps the 

 beauties with which Flora allures us, are more open to general 

 view and require less investigation, that Botany has the advantage 

 of first attracting the regards of the admirers of nature; and as 

 she started first, so of course she has made the greatest progress. 

 But Zoology is now marching after her with rapid strides, and I 

 trust will in time overtake her, so that the sisters may run the 

 remainder of their race, as they should do, hand in hand together. 

 Another cause is the infinite number, even of indigenous species, 

 of the invertebrate animals, so that it should seem that a complete 

 Fauna, if undertaken by a single individual, must be left as a 

 legacy to a successor for completion. Fita brevis^ yirs longa^ is 

 a most discouraging apophthegm to the general zoologist, Avho 

 without Herculean stamina undertakes the labours of a Hercules: 

 but Vis unitafortior, what one nan cannot hope to accomplish in 

 the usual term of human life, may easily and well be done where 

 many unite their forces for that purpose. Did a number of in- 

 dividuals, sufiiciently conversant with their science, combine to 

 produce a British Fauna, each undertaking a separate department 

 suited to his talents and previous pursuits, the grand desideratum 

 might at length be effected. It strikes me that this object might 

 be put in train by the means and under the patronage of the Zoo- 

 logical Club. I see now around me a number of Gentlemen suffi- 

 ciently learned in nature, and several who have drunk deeply at 

 her well-spring of knowledge, who, if once they undertook the 

 task, would accomplish it with the highest credit to themselves 

 and to the great advantage of the science they cultivate. Let the 

 members of our new-born iiistitution, amongst other subjects, dis- 

 cuss this point amongst themselves at their meetings — weigh the 

 difficulties — investigate the means — consider the proper persons — 

 apportion the work — set their shoulders to the wheel, and the 

 thing will be half done ; for most true is that aphorism— 



Dimidium facti, qui bene coepit, habet. 

 But let me not be misunderstood on this subject ; I do not mean 

 that such a work should be read at our meetings, or appear in the 



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