Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 173 
partially remodelling the terms of his nomenclature, that we 
conceive ourselves strictly to derive our principles from him. 
We are willing to go even so much further as to assert that 
those naturalists, who in the present advanced state of sci- 
ence would have us bind ourselves exclusively to his nomen- 
clature, virtually run counter to the spirit of his precepts. Had 
he left us only what he called his * System," this fact might 
not appear so evident. But he has left us what is even of more 
value, if possible, —his opinion of that system, and of its insuf- 
ficiency for any purpose but to meet the limited knowledge of 
his age. He pointed out* to us how far it was a mere outline 
of the material world, to be filled up as increasing information 
would furnish the details,——how far it was a mere substitute for 
that more ample view of nature, of which succeeding ages might 
hope to obtain a glimpse. He saw, in fact, the promised land 
* We allude to those sketches of the vegetable kingdom, which, with the modesty 
always attendant on true genius ; and information, Linnœæus styled “ Fragments of a 
Natural Method." In these the first glimpse is given of that improved mode of « sym- 
bolical representation by which we may hope, as knowledge increases, to communi- 
- cate with some degree of accuracy our ideas respecting the groups of nature. The 
deficiency perceptible in these * Fragments” is expressly stated to have originated 
in the deficiency of materials, which more extensive knowledge would serve to sup- 
ply ;—* defectus nondum delectorum in causá fuit quod methodus naturalis deficiat, 
quam pluriuin cognitio perficiet; natura enim non facit saltus." (Phil. Bot.) We 
cannot give a more just description of the genuine merits of Linnæus with respect to 
his views of arrangement, than by transcribing the words of the author of the * Hore 
Entomologice," who, after stating that * he honours the memory of that great man," not 
on account of ** his precision of description," nor of * his learning in synonyms,” nor of 
* hi having been a happy inventor of words,” asserts, “ that his glory is builton much 
more stable foundations: for the man who first pointed out the distinction between the 
natural method and an artificial system ; who first perceived the impossibility of giving 
either accurate definitions or characters to natural groups ; and who first remarked the 
existence of intermediate genera between natural orders, must always be considered as 
one of the principal founders of our knowledge with respect to the natural system, when- 
soever this shall appear."— Hore Ent. Pref. p. xx. ; 
before 
