600 



Death of N. A. Vigors, Esq. 



In the intelligence of deaths brought by the last Overland mail, we observe with 

 much regret a name which is familiar to all zoologists — N. A. Vigors, Esq. Mr. 

 Vigors was the first naturalist who availed himself of the views of Mr. MacLeay, 

 regarding the natural affinities of animals. In a paper published in the fourteenth 

 volume of the Linnaean Transactions, entitled " Observations on the natural affini- 

 ties that connect the orders and families of birds," Mr. Vigors, after an elaborate 

 analysis of the whole ornithological kingdom, found the divisions to correspond 

 with five types, corresponding with those which had been discovered by Mr. 

 MacLeay in the Lamilicorn insects. These types he distinguished as Raptor es or 

 rapacious birds, Insessores, perching birds, Rasores distinguished from the latter 

 by their size, docility, and importance to man, as well as by several natural 

 characters, Grallatores, or waders, and Natatores, or swimmers. With a philosophy 

 and familiarity with the details of his subject unknown before, Mr. Vigors next 

 pointed out the number and relations of the minor groups composing each order, 

 and his results have been confirmed and adopted by all subsequent writers. 



In the succeeding volume of the same transactions Mr. Vigors, in conjunction 

 with Dr. Horsfield, described the rich collection of Australian birds in the Museum 

 of the Linnaean Society, applying the same views to the numerous new groups of 

 New Holland species. The immense labour bestowed on this undertaking can 

 only be appreciated by those who know what it is to have the unknown productions 

 of an uninvestigated continent before them for elucidation. 



Mr. Vigors was one of the principal supporters of the Zoological Journal, in 

 which his papers were more numerous, and no less valuable than his contributions 

 to the Linnaean Society. He was also one of the founders of the Zoological Society, 

 and a constant contributor to its proceedings and transactions. Yet as an instance 

 of the public indifference to science in England, the only subject of regret con- 

 nected with the death of Mr, Vigors, as announced in the various English news- 

 papers is, that it leaves a vacancy in the representation of Carlow. 



List of the principal objects of the Zoology of continental 

 India required in Menageries and Museums in London. 

 Living animals, when practicable, should be sent in pairs, 



male and female ; birds should be confined in cages, and their 



tail feathers cut short. 



1. Any peculiar varieties or species of horned cattle that 

 may be known to exist in the vicinity of Assam and the 

 Nerbudda, or other remote parts of India. 



2. The large black deer of Rungpore, Orissa, Nerbudda, 

 and Terai, of which naturalists suppose there are in the 



