8894 The Zoologist — March, 1874. 



much more than one half were known to conchologists, notwithstanding 

 their assiduous labours, teaches us how much remains to he done before we 

 can assume tliat the record of Marine Zoology is complete. Let us compare 

 the vast expanse of the sea-bed in the North Atlantic with that small fringe 

 of the coast on both sides of it which has yet been partially explored, and 

 consider, with reference to the dredging just mentioned, what are the 

 prospects of our ever becoming acquainted with all the inhabitants of the 

 deep throughout the globe. We believe, however, that a thorough examina- 

 tion of the newer Tertiaries would materially assist us in the inquiry, and 

 such examination is feasible and comparatively easy." — P. 183. 



The value and importance of these dredgings do not consist 

 wholly, or even principally, in the number of species discovered 

 or the novelty of their forms; they have a teaching higher than 

 this — they correct and eradicate erroneous impressions, and show 

 us how futile are the hypothetical limits assigned to oceanic life, 

 and the boundaries affixed to the recent and fossil organisms of 

 the sea : some of these speculations bad so captivated and en- 

 thralled the credulous and superficial that they seemed to have 

 attained the dignity of facts : without undervaluing in the least 

 degree the additions made to our list of species, these rectifications, 

 if 1 may so call them, are the greatest boon, and we cannot too 

 heartily thank the men who have devoted their time, their energies, 

 and their abilities, not only to the discovery of fact, but to that 

 destruction of hypothesis which these facts involve. 



The 'Depths of the Sea' will inevitably give an impetus to the 

 reaction in favour of fact, and will discountenance that overweening 

 love of speculation which has laid so many stumbling-blocks in the 

 onward march of science and of trulli. If the mind is occupied either 

 in devising, accepting or refuting hypotheses, it is obvious it has 

 little opportunity for acquiring, digesting and utilising fact. The 

 work is not a mere evanescent production, to be laid aside as soon 

 as read; its use will increase with the using; and however much 

 we may prize it for ourselves, we may confidently anticipate that 

 our children will hereafter prize it more ; they will find the in- 

 formation it contains absolutely necessary to the just appreciation 

 of that charming institution now happily becoming so general, the 

 Marine Aquarium. 



Edward Newman. 



