36 
It is also to be regretted that the learned doctor does not 
add to his qualities a little more indulgence towards other 
naturalists, often his predecessors in the science. He has placed 
himself, by his works, quite high enough not to be quite so bitter 
towards those who have not, like himself, the privilege of never 
being mistaken. Even in speaking of Cuvier, the master of all 
modern naturalists, he cannot refrain from this habit of 
rude criticism, which so often becomes olfensive. It is to 
be regretted that he has not, with so many other things, 
learned from the great man I have just mentioned to cor- 
rect with urbanity the mistakes of others. If Cuvier was 
obliged to rectify a traveller or a little known naturalist, 
he would do it in such an indulgent way as to encourage him 
to pursue his labours ; and if he had to correct a man high 
in science, LinnEeiis for instance, he was always disposed to add 
that a little inattention was well excusable in the man of 
genius who had imposed on himself the task of describing the 
immensity of Hature. It is evident that Dr. Gunther’s greatest 
delight is to find fault with everyone and with everything. 
When he mentions a plate, ho must almost always add one of the 
following epithets : — -“Hot good.” “Bad.” “Very bad.” And 
in many cases he has never seen the fish in question, and the 
drawing is due to one of those artists who, having devoted the 
labours of their lives to zoology, have become naturalists of 
no small merit themselves. His love for criticism is such 
as to make him point out mistakes that have been already 
corrected by the author himself. For example, in describing 
my IlolacantJuis Formosus, he says in a note that the 
number of the fins are entirely wrong as I have stated them, 
when, in the Errata of the work (“Fishes of South America ”), 
in the Zoological part of my Expedition (p. 112), I myself cor- 
rected the mistake, and re-established the real numbers. 
One of the greatest beauties of the study of Nature is gene- 
rally considered to reside in the brotherly feeling it establishes 
between men of all nations, of all ages, of all ranks. It is the 
greatest boon of sulferance, and often the only consolation in 
misfortune ; but if it was to be followedi n the spirit with which 
some modern naturalists seem to be imbued, it would soon 
change these kind and generous sentiments into feelings of spite, 
