ii8 



NATURE 



\ytme 14, 1877 



with much regret that we observe an attitude of hostility 

 to the mode of distribution which has been deemed most 

 conducive to the reputation of the expedition and to the 

 interests of science. 



It would seem that while almost'all the great zoological 

 groups which the Challenger's dredges have brought to 

 light have been handed over for examination to naturalists 

 in this country, a few have been placed in the hands of 

 American and German workers ; and it is this association 

 of foreign zoologists with the men to whom in this country 

 by far the largest portion of the work has been assigned that 

 has excited the indignation of the individuals referred to. 



Now every one who has kept himself en rapport with 

 recent zoological research, must know that the foreign 

 zoologists, to whom Sir C. Wyville Thomson has in- 

 trusted these collections, stand before all others in the 

 amount and thoroughness of their work in the special 

 departments of zoology for which their aid is asked, and 

 the narrowest nationalism cannot deny that it was the 

 duty of the director to see that the specimens were placed 

 in the hands of men most competent to secure for science 

 the results which have been obtained at the cost of so 

 much labour, skill, and public expenditure. 



If this country can be shown to enjoy the unique dis- 

 tinction of possessing in every department of zoological 

 research men at least as good as can be met with else- 

 where, the advocates of a national science may find an 

 argument in favour of having the work absolutely con- 

 fined to Englishmen ; but if we cannot assume a position 

 which no other nation in the world would think of claim- 

 ing, it is plainly for the interests of science that we should 

 supplement from abroad those departments of research in 

 which foreign workers may excel us. 



That the naturalists to whom we have referred will not 

 receive much support from their fellow-workers will be 

 evident from the subjoined letter to the Editors of the 

 Annals now in process of signature, which has already 

 received the adhesion of the presidents and secretaries of 

 the Royal, Linnean, and Zoological Societies, and of 

 other leading men in this department of knowledge : — 



'^ Zoohgy of the ' Challenger' Expedition. 



"As in a letter upon this subject in the number of the Annals 

 of Natural History for May last Dr. P. Martin Duncan, writing 

 as president of the Geological Society, has stated that he speaks 

 'at the instance of a very considerable number of members 

 of learned societies,' we, the undersigned, wish to state 

 that we do not agree in the strictures passed by Dr. Dancan 

 upon the manner in which Sir C. Wyville Thomson has distri- 

 buted the specimens collected by the Challenger Expedition for 

 description. So far as we have had an opportunity of judging 

 we are perfectly satisfied that Sir C. Wyville Thomson, in the 

 arrangements which he has made as regards these collections, has 

 acted consistently with the best interest of science. 



" It was, in our opinion, Sir C. Wyville Thomson's duty to 

 secure the aid of the most competent naturalists without regard 

 to their nationality ; and, even if it were proper that national 

 jealousies should be imported into science, Sir C. Wyville 

 Thomson can hardly be reproached on this score, when it is 

 considered that two-thirds at least of the naturalists whose aid 

 he has obtained are Englishmen. 



" J. D. Hooker. W. H. Flower. 



T. H. HU.XLEY. P. L. SCLATER. 



Charles Darwin. Osbert Salvin. 



St. George Mivart. A. H. Garrod. 



Francis Day. Geo. A. Allman. 



Geo. Busk. Twekddale." 

 William B. Carpenter. 



It is of importance that no misunderstanding should 



exist as to the real state of the controversy which has 

 arisen on a subject in which zoological science is so 

 deeply interested, and we believe we cannot do better 

 than lay before our readers the correspondence which 

 had taken place between Sir Wyville Thomson and Dr. 

 P. Martin Duncan before a word of hostile criticism had 

 as yet shown itself in print. 



" Scientific Club, Savile Row, London, W. 

 " 24th March, 1877 

 " My Dear Sir Wyville Thomson, 



"You can hardly imagine the strong feeling of disappoint- 

 ment which has arisen amongst a very large section of the 

 naturalists and paleontologists who study the invertebrates, in 

 consequence of a letter which was published in the Ann. and 

 Mag. of Nat. Hist, for March, 1877. In this letter the scientific 

 world is informed by our mutual friend, A. Agassiz, that the 

 Echini, Ophiurans, Radiolaria, and a part of the Spongida col- 

 lected in the expedition of the Challenger have been given to 

 American and German naturalists for description, and that the 

 United States have a 'fair share' of the work. So great is the 

 feeling that English workers should have been thus passed over, 

 that a conference has been held on the subject, and I have been 

 asked to write to you in the friendliest spirit of remonstrance. 

 I need hardly state that I should not have taken this liberty did 

 I not happen to hold a position which ent.iils action in every- 

 thing relating to the progress of geological science. Writing 

 then on the part of many men whose capabilities as naturalists 

 and palceontologists I am well aware of, I express their and 

 my own opinion that in this distribution your amiability and 

 want of personal acquaintance with English workers have led 

 you astray. We recognise the great merits of those foreign 

 gentlemen to whom you have sent collections and the exceeding 

 liberality of A. Agassiz ; but we do not think that you are 

 justified in giving them the results of the gi-eatest natural 

 history expedition which has ever sailed from this country, 

 unless there is a want of that power amongst English workers 

 which will enable them to treat the subjects in the broadest 

 sense, and to compare the recent and geological faunas satis- 

 factorily. There is no such deficiency. I am asked to 

 urge upon you a reconsideration of the matter, and to leave a 

 fair portion of work in the hands of our friends, giving the rest to 

 men of your own country. Assuring you that we appreciate 

 your difficulties, and that we will assist you in every way conso- 

 nant ^with the dignity of English science, I remain, 

 " Yours sincerely, 

 (Signed) "P. Martin Duncan 

 "Sir C. Wyville Thomson " 



" My Dear Dr. Martin Duncan, 



" I must ask you to consider this note as written to yourself 

 personally, for I cannot, of course, in any way recognise this 

 nameless 'Conference.' 1 may mention, however, at starting, 

 that in this matter I have consulted several of the first English 

 naturalists, and that they entirely approve of my selection. 



" I take up my pen rather hopelessly, for your letter does not 

 touch any of the considerations on which I have acted. My duty 

 was to have prepared an official account of the voyage to the best 

 of my power within a certain time. I endeavoured to select to 

 assist me in this (i) those who had most successfully m.ade cer- 

 tain branches their special study and were generally regarded as 

 authorities : and {2) those whom I knew by experience to be 

 likely to do the work within the time to which I was tied down, 

 and to return the specimens in good order to be lodged in the 

 British Museum. In all cases where I considered tliat these 

 conditions were fairly fulfilled by Englishmen I at once and fully 

 recognised the great advantage of avoiding the risk of sending 

 things abroad, but except for this consideration I confess I saw 

 and see no objection, but rather the reverse, to making a great 

 work of this kind somewhat more catholic. The result has, 

 however, been, that by far the greater part of the work will be 

 done in England. I do not mean to go into special cases, but I 

 give a general sketch of the arrangements as they now stand :— 

 Sea Mammals . . ... Prof. Turner. 



Birds .. Dr. Sclater. 



Fishes .. .. .. Dr. Giinther. 



Cephalopoda... ... ... Prof. Huxley. 



Gastropoda I Rev. R. B. Watson. 



Lamellibranchiata ... .. ) 



