Mr. W. S. Macleay on certain Birds of Cuba. 25 



is the Kd^ya^olovra. of Aristotle, the Carnivora of Ray, and Fera 

 of Linnaeus. Their claws, their abdominal mammae, and their 

 organs of generation, separate the Fer^ from the former 

 order. 



Another natural group is distinguished from the preceding 

 under the title of ra, f^n Ku^y^u^ohyTcc by Aristotle ; who did not, 

 however, seize its true character*. This remained in obscurity 

 until Ray described certain animals as " Quadrupeda vivipara 

 pede multifido herbivora binis praelongis dentibus anterioribus 

 in utrdque maxilla seu Leporinum genust." Linnaeus saw the 

 truth of the order as thus characterized, from all others ; but 

 changed the name to Glires, which has given way among the 

 disciples of llliger to the clumsy appellation of Prensiculantia, 

 and among those of Cuvier, to the very applicable one of Ron- 

 geurs or Rodentia. A Member of the Linnean Society may, 

 however, be permitted to retain the name of Glires. 



Another most natural group was pretty well understood and 

 characterized by Aristotle under the name of ra.f^sv ov» afjupohna, 

 all other viviparous quadrupeds being uf^odovra, — that is, fur- 

 nished with cutting-teeth or incisors in both the upper and 

 under jaw.]:. He also described them as not furnished with 

 claws but with hoofs, which occasioned Ray, who understood 

 the value of the group, to call it Ungulata, all other quadrupeds 

 being Unguiculata. Somehow or other, Linnaeus unfortunately 

 lost sight of this group, and contented himself instead with 



* It is not clear whether Aristotle placed this group among the aftfoSovra or not. 

 My only reason for thinking he did so is, that he places them in opposition to the 

 Kotgx'^gohvTU. If, however, the word «/x<poSovT« means circumdentata, — a signification 

 that it will bear, — then it is clear that he could not have meant the Glires to be 

 included in this group. 



\ Rail Syn. p. 204. 



\ Afji^olaiv, utrinque dentatus. 



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