MEMOIR OF DR. LATHAM. 
29 
such institutions confer on mankind by the promotion of science, may supply 
encouragement to every individual who, like the subject of our memoir, feels 
disposed to devote a portion of his talents to the investigation of Nature :— 
“ The slightest piece of information which may tend to the advancement of 
the science, we should thankfully receive. However trifling in itself, yet, com¬ 
bined with other facts, it may become important. Whatever relates to the 
determination of species, even in the lowest, and seemingly unimportant tribes 
of Nature’s works, ought never to be neglected. Nor let the humble and patient 
student of this very difficult part of Natural History be discouraged by the sneers 
of the supercilious coxcomb, or of the ignorant vulgar. He who determines with 
certainty a single species of the minutest Moss or meanest insect, adds so far to 
the general stock of human knowledge—which is more than can be said of many 
a celebrated name : no one can tell of what importance that single fact may be 
to future ages : and when we consider how many millions of our fellow creatures 
pass through life without furnishing a single atom to increase this stock, we shall 
learn to think with more respect of those who do.” 
By the preface to the Supplement of 1787, we find that our author was, at 
that time, contemplating the publication of his Index Ornithologicus , containing 
brief descriptions of the genera and species included in his larger work ; it appeared 
in 1791. This very useful work, written in what might at that time be termed 
a universal language, was received with great applause both in Britain and on 
the Continent. Yet it is well known that it appeared too late to prevent the 
loss of a portion of the author’s just fame. Several hundreds of birds, unknown 
to Linnaeus, had been classified and named for the first time by Mr. Latham, 
in the General Synopsis. In 1788 Gmelin issued his edition of Linnaeus’s 
Systema Natures-, in which he supplied the deficiencies of the original work from 
more recent writers, translating into Latin those names which then existed only 
in the modern languages. Hence it frecpiently happens that the names of Lin¬ 
naeus and Gmelin are referred to as authorities with respect to birds which were 
in fact wholly unknown to the former, and with which the latter alone became 
acquainted through the industry of our author. 
In consequence of the favourable reception which his name met with abroad, 
Mr. Latham was elected an Honorary Member of.the Natural History Society at 
Berlin, and of the Royal Society at Stockholm. In addition to these honours, 
the University of Erlang, unsolicited, conferred upon him the degree of M.D. 
The diploma was forwarded to him in the beginning of 1795. A compliment so 
handsomely offered could not but be gratefully felt by him; but he was unwilling 
to assume the title it bestowed. Some of his friend’s, however—among whom Sir 
Joseph Banks was the foremost—insisted on addressing him from that time as 
Dr. Latham. 
