388 ON THE MARSUPIAL QUADRUPEDS 



Art. III. — Observations on the History and Classification of the 

 Marsupial Quadrupeds of Neiv Holland. By W. Ogilby, Esq., 

 M.A., &c. &c. 



(Continued from page 265). 



Tested by these indisputable principles, I have no hesita- 

 tion in affirming that Cuvier' s distribution of the marsupials 

 into families is as unphilosophical, as I have already shown 

 it to be illogical. It proceeds, in fact, upon mere modifica- 

 tions of dentition, often totally unimportant, and without the 

 least regard to habit, unless such erroneous habits as are in- 

 ferred from structure ; which is entirely reversing the order of 

 induction, and beginning to philosophise at the wrong end. 

 The alterations introduced by M. Latreille are equally objec- 

 tionable in a philosophical point of view, though a great im- 

 provement upon M. Cuvier's arrangement in logical simpli- 

 city and precision ; they proceed upon the clear and definite 

 principle of the existence and development of canine teeth in 

 one or both jaws, or in neither; but as this is a purely arbi- 

 trary assumption, its results are consequently more confused, 

 without being more natural, than those of M. Cuvier ; and the 

 names of Entomophaga, Carpophaga, and Phyllophaga, by 

 which he has designated his principal groups, are purely ima- 

 ginary, and have no juster application to the generality of the 

 animals comprised under them, than they have to the Cetacea 

 or the Ruminantia. The entire disregard of affinities which 

 M. Latreille evinces in removing the kangaroo-rats (Hypsi- 

 prymnus) from the vicinity of the kangaroos, (Macropus), and 

 the petaurists from the phalangers, with which even the me- 

 thod of Baron Cuvier left them in contiguity, is not the least 

 glaring proof of the rashness of his attempts at improvement 

 in this department of Zoology ; whilst his association of the 

 Hypsiprymni in the same family with the phalangers and 

 koolas, and of the petaurists and wombats {Phascolomys) with 

 the kangaroos, could only have arisen from a total disregard 

 both of habits and structure, and an obstinate adherence to 

 a preconceived arbitrary and artificial principle of classifica- 

 tion. But it is unnecessary to pursue these criticisms farther: 

 those who have studied the subject, will readily appreciate 

 the defects of both these arrangements ; and what I have al- 

 ready said will, I hope, be sufficient to guard the learner from 

 trusting too implicitly to the reputation of the authors, and 

 the weight of their authority. 



To guide us to a more natural and philosophical arrange- 

 ment, let us for a moment attend to the modifications which 

 the two systems of organs, principally employed in governing 

 the habits and economy of animals, undergo among the mar- 



