104 Mr. Vigors' s Repli/ to some Obstrvations 



ous, the original tens increasing to hundreds ; and new leading 

 characteristicks were selected to distinguish them, such as 

 the emargination of the anteriour tibice, the abbreviation of the 

 elytra^ the pcdunculation of the abdomen^ &c., &c. By these means 

 such groups as Harpalus^ Lat., Brachinus^ and Scarites, Fab., the 

 true Carabus^ &C.5 intervened between the original genus Carabus^ 

 Linn., and the species of that group; and as these groups now 

 became proximate to species, they virtually became genera in their 

 turn. These genera again, as science advanced, were found in- 

 conveniently prolifick in species, those of the original Linnean 

 group, amounting, as has been lately observed,* to sixteen hun- 

 dred j and more minute but still important characters of distinc- 

 tion, such as the different forms of the several parts of the trophi^ 

 the shape of the thorax^ the relative proportions of the joints of 

 the aniennce, &c., fee, were still further resorted to for the purposes 

 of subdivision. Intervening assemblages thus crept in between 

 these latter genera and their species. And to select one of them 

 for an example, Harpalus was resolved into Chlwnius^ Bon.^ 

 Ca/ascopus^ Kirby, Dicoelindus, M'L., the true Harpalus of 

 Authours, and several similar groups, which, being now proxi- 

 mate to species, respectively assumed the title of genus according 

 to the peculiar acceptation of that term in Natural Science. In 

 this process the original groups of Carabus and Harpalus^ which 

 had successively filled the place of genera, having become of a 

 still more comprehensive nature, received appellations of a pro- 

 portionally higher value ; and they are now distinguished as a 

 family or a stirps according to their respective station in the series. 

 It cannot be here concealed that the apparent closeness with 

 which such investigations are carried on has brought down some 

 reflexions on the modern naturalist. It has become the fashion of 

 late to inveigh against this minuteness of research, and to allege 

 that the higher views of the science are sacrificed to subordinate 

 and petty details. I cannot subscribe to this doctrine. In making 

 a comparison between the earlier and present views of the science, 

 "we must take into consideration the relative knowledge of both 

 times. And when we find that a single genus of Linnaeus, his 



* Annulosa Javunica. Pari. \. p. 11. 



