168 Notice of British Naturalists. 



The last writer upon British Testacea is Mr. Joshua Alder, 

 of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the Transactions of the Natural His- 

 tory Society of Northumberland and Durham. He describes 71 

 species of land and fresh water shells as belonging to his neighbor- 

 hood, many of which are new. 



We have thus traced the gradual progress of natural science, as 

 connected with Great Britain, from the days of Ray to our own 

 times. We have seen how by degrees it has gathered strength, 

 and how accuracy and scientific power also advanced. We have 

 likewise seen that nearly all which has been accomplished has 

 been done by those who had higher and more important duties to 

 fulfil, but who, when weary, refreshed their minds by the observa- 

 tion of the works of God, instead of wasting in idleness or frivo- 

 lous amusement, these their leisure hours, A complete account 

 of the higher order of the zoology of that country, it is now in 

 the power of any one to possess ; and as regards the mammalia 

 and birds, little probably remains to be added. But when we 

 consider how each successive writer has thought that he had ex- 

 hausted the stores of nature ; how Ray supposed that the world 

 did not contain above 150 species of beasts and reptiles, 50 of 

 birds, and 500 of fishes, although now, in our own days, we have 

 described 1200 species of mammalia, 6500 of birds, 8000 fishes, 

 and 1500 reptiles, we may justly suppose and hope, that many 

 more both of shells and fishes may be added to the list of the 

 British Fauna. And as regards the United States we may learn 

 how much is to be accomplished ; although much has been done, 

 and from what we do know, we may be incited to additional en- 

 deavors. Of this we may be assured, that as this study becomes 

 more popular, so shall we see the mind of the people improving ; 

 simplicity of heart, and love of the works of God multiplied ; and 

 a thousand intellectual pleasures opened to those who, under 

 Providence, are obliged to spend a larger part of their lives in har- 

 rassing and fatiguing employments. We shall find that this 

 study forms a bond of union between the lower and the higher 

 classes of society, — the practical mechanic and the man of sci- 

 ence ; that it increases human happiness, by enlarging the sphere 

 of intellectual pleasure ; for every new development of intelli- 

 gence is a source 'of pure enjoyment. The bond of union will 

 be the love of knowledge. There is an equality in science, for 

 the great requisite is not the amount of information, but the de- 

 sire to be informed. 



