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Zoological Catalogue of the Museum of the Asiatic Society. — By 

 J. T. Pearson, Esq. 



To H. TORRENS, Esq. 



Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 

 Sir, 



When Curator of the Asiatic Society, I wished to make a catalogue 

 of that portion of the Museum — the Zoological, which was my particu- 

 lar charge,* and to this end got ready a good number of notes, and 

 began to prepare the catalogue ; my departure from Calcutta, and 

 afterwards other circumstances, obliged me to put off copying and 

 correcting it. And at last I found, that not only had my arrangement 

 of the Museum been overthrown, but the labels I had attached to the 

 specimens were displaced, probably by some rough treatment. Under 

 these circumstances, my intention of publishing my notes was almost 

 laid aside ; but as they may be useful when the Society shall have got 

 a Curator, by saving him a great deal of labour ; and as the labels of 

 the osteological specimens were written in ink, they, at all events, 

 could not have fallen off, I have the pleasure of placing a portion of 

 the catalogue at the disposal of the Society ; the remainder shall follow 

 as soon as I can prepare it. 



In the introductory remarks, I have explained the principles upon 

 which I think such a catalogue should be made : I have therefore 

 nothing to add upon that subject ; but as a member of the Society, 

 I must deprecate the changes and innovations in the classification of 

 the objects in the Museum, which I understand to have been made. 

 If every successive Curator be allowed to alter the arrangement at his 



* I mention this, because blame has been cast upon former Curators, for their in- 

 attention to the Geological and Mineralogical portions of the Museum. Lest it should 

 be thought just to myself, I distinctly state, that I never took charge of more than the 

 Zoological portion of the Museum ; Mr. J. Prinsep having had the Geological and 

 Mineralogical specimens under his own care : and I must say it will take much better 

 evidence, than any yet brought forward, to make me believe he neglected them 

 in any way ; much less to justify the hue and cry that has been raised about them. 

 The confusion spoken of by the Committee of Papers in their late Curatorship report, 

 has probably arisen since he was compelled by his much to be lamented illness to 

 retire from the country ; or from innovations which are better calculated for display, 

 than for improvement. 



