Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/12

 Kingdom, and is well known to most of our readers. I have now the pleasing task of announcing a new candidate for favour, embracing the only department in Natural History which has hitherto been without its acknowledged organ of communication with the public; I allude to the 'London Geological Journal,' the first number of which has just issued from the press, and which for the value of its contents, and beauty of its illustrations, is unrivalled by any scientific periodical in existence. It was an idea of my own to separate the three branches of Natural History, and to assign its organ to each, under the names of 'Zoologist,' 'Phytologist,' and 'Geologist.' It rarely happens that the same individual cultivates with any zeal, more than one of these sciences; hence, the purchasers of either of the numerous magazines of Natural History paid two-thirds of their subscription exclusively for the benefit of others. This of itself is a reason why the various Natural History magazines have been unsuccessful, and of all those which commenced with a large share of public patronage, one only exists; and that one is largely occupied by translations of continental essays and reprints of the proceedings of Societies, the first of no present interest, and the last regularly supplied to us in a cheaper and more useful form.

The love of Zoology appears to be making considerable progress in this country. A more extended and a better taste exists than at any previous period. We are emerging from the dark age, when mere technicality passed for science, mere sophistry for philosophy. We now find an increasing taste for the living being, a decreasing taste for the dried fragments: we view the latter as valuable only in proportion as it informs us of the former. The pages of the 'Zoologist' afford the best possible illustration of these observations.

The Ray Society, projected three years ago, for the publication of "original works in Zoology, Botany," &c., &c., flags for want of works to publish. It has given to the subscribers a portion