DAVIS: HUGH EDWIN .STRLCKLAND, F.R.S., KTC. 1-49 
1843, when he- drew up a sketch of a series of rules for that purpose, 
which embodied most of the principles ultimately agreed upon. This 
was the first origin of the Ray Society. The plan was afterwards 
developed by the activity of Dr. Johnson, of Berwick, a fellow-labourer 
and much-valued friend. In August, 1843, Strickland ^\Tote to Sir 
William Jardine as follows : — It is proposed to establish a Society, to 
be called the Montagu Society, for the purpose of publishing original 
illustrative memoirs on recent or fossil zoology and comparative an- 
atomy ; the subscription to be £1 per annum ; the number of the 
subscribers to be unlimited ; each subscriber to receive annually a 
copy of all the publications of the Society, which are also to be sold, 
without restriction, at a reasonable price to the public. The 
Society not to accumulate capital, but to publish annually a greater 
or less amount of matter according to the state of its funds ; the 
illustrations to be confined to such objects as are either new to science 
or have been inaccurately or incompletely figured previously. The 
Society may, if thought advisable, present any of their plates or 
letterpress to the transactions of Scientific Societies, retaining a 
sufficient number of copies for distribution among their own members. 
Memoirs which have been already read to other Societies may be 
published by this Society, provided such memoirs have not been pre- 
viously printed. Such was the outline of my proposed plan, the 
idea of which originated in the evidence which came before us at 
Cork, and the number of valuable researches which seem likely to 
remain in manuscript from the great cost of making engravings. 
There were " Forbes' Dredgings in the Mediterranean," Denny's 
"Entozoa," Alder and Hancock's " Nudibranchiata," Dr. Carpenter's 
" Microscopic Researches on Shells," and a host of other valuable 
communications, all appealing to the Association for help which the 
Association was obliged, from want of funds, to refuse, and it further 
appeared that most of the great Scientific Societies were equally un- 
able to publish memoirs which required any great outlay of plates 
for their illustrations. A Society especially devoted to this object 
seemed to offer the only chance, and I rejoice therefore to see that 
such a project is likely to be at last realised." Dr. Johnson took up 
the projected Society and entered with much spirit into its organiza- 
