Observations on the state of zoology in Europe, as regards the vertebrata / Translated for the Ray Society, by H.E. Strickland.

  • Charles Lucien Bonaparte
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the state of zoology in Europe, as regards the vertebrata / Translated for the Ray Society, by H.E. Strickland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/78 page 6
    Mammifers, not to mention the well known labours of Bell, and the useful researches of the encyclopaedic J. E. Gray, who so worthily superintends the first zoological museum in the world ; there are, at present, three men who are earnestly engaged on this class in Britain—Martin, Waterhouse, and Ogilby, The first, if it had not been for the unfortunate failure of a pub- lisher, would probably haye finished a complete general work on the Mammalia, the commencement of which, embracing only the varieties of Man and the Simiidce, forms a luminous sample of a work worthy of all praise, and leaves in us a lively and unhappily insatiable desire for the remainder. Mr. Waterhouse, who occupies the enviable position of Curator to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London,* and who founds his researches upon the structure of the cranium, to which, how- ever, he perhaps attaches too exclusive an importance, has given us some excellent monographs, of which I beg to offer as a specimen to this meeting, that of the Oaleopitheci, in which group he establishes, on good grounds, two species. He has also arranged the Carnivora into new and very natural groups, giving his chief attention, however, to the Rodentia, in regard to which we may depend upon his work being most perfect, as he has promised to figure the entire series of this very intricate order. Of Mr. Ogilby, the worthy secretary of the same Zoological Society, it is sufficient to allude to the friendship and renown which he enjoys among men of science. He spares no exertion to increase his extensive knowledge of Mammalia, with the view of publishing, in due time, a general work on species. Meanwhile, he does not cease to publish memoirs on many questions connected with this subject, espe- cially on the Ruminantia, which he has arranged in a much more philosophical manner than was before known. And even those who, like myself, cannot attach so great an importance to the organs of locomotion and of prehension, as he is dis- posed to do, must admit, that even the abuse of this principle has in his hands been beneficial to science. By conversing in * Mr. Waterhouse does not now occupy this position, but he is equally well placed for the study of Zoology, as assistant-curator in the British Museum.—Ed.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3