Anniversary Meeting of the Zoological Club. 219 



I have already adverted to the important accessions w^hich 

 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 collectors, who were not always scrupu- 

 lous 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 thousand 

 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 Illus- 

 trations of British Entomology^ 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 described. 

 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^critahas 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 apparently 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 t]iese departments. And from the sample, limited as it has 



* I must here mention the names of Dr. Grant and Dr. Fleming, as 

 having 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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