Mr. Burnett's Arrarujcnent of the Quadrupeda. 347 



genera : i. e. rather a group of genera than a genus. His 

 great ability and consummate skill were chiefly shewn in form- 

 ing these general associations ; and, in the ample range which 

 his powerful mind took of the whole of nature, what wonder 

 is it that, when much fewer individuals of each kind were 

 known, many genera truly distinct were coalesced ; and these 

 sub-genera modern zoologists must, by degrees, distinguish 

 and separate as such : yet, not to lose the advantage of his 

 comprehensive scheme, retaining, as far as they are correct, his 

 genera as the next larger groups or kinds. Thus his Canis, 

 Felis, Ursus, Mus, &c. form our Canidae, Felidae, Ursidae, 

 Muridae ; and in like manner of the rest. Again, his genus 

 Canis, which gives name to the kind, forms its sub-sections 

 into genera, as Canis, the true dog ; Vulpes, the fox, the 

 hyaena, &c. Mus, also, which becomes Muridae, gives as its 

 sub-genera, now genera, Mus, the mouse and rat ; Arctomys, 

 the marmot ; Cricetus, the hamster ; Myoxus, the dormouse, 

 &c. &c. 



Type, Quadrupeda (Quadrupedes). Quadrupeds, truly four-footed 

 beasts. Mammalious, ditreraatous ; furnished with four 

 well - developed and freely - exserted limbs, terminating in 

 feet. 

 Districts, Unguipedat.e (Digitate, or nailed, i. e. Unguipedate quad- 

 rupeds). Feet terminating in distinctly developed toes, or in 

 digits less freely exserted, armed with nails : no abdominal 

 pouches. 

 Pr.ecocinat.b (Praecocinates, Marsupiatae, Marsupiates, Mas- 

 tothecatae, Mastothecates, sacculate or teat-pouched beasts). 

 Destitute of true placenta ? The females parturient prema- 

 turely; generally furnished with a marsupium. Marsupial 

 bones in both sexes. 

 Cornipedat.e (Cornipedates, or hoofed quadrupeds). All the 

 extremities terminating in toes more or less numerous, and 

 more or less developed, but the digits enclosed in hoofs : no 

 abdominal pouches. 

 Unguipedat.k, 

 Races, Fer^b, Plenidentia, or Tridentulae ; savage beasts. Three 

 sorts of teeth — incisors, canines, and molars ; more or less 

 distinct ; always in one, generally in both jaws. 

 Glires, Rodentia, or Bidentulae, Liberae ; free beasts. Two 

 sorts of teeth only, incisors and molars ; never canines ; a 

 distinct diastemma in their stead: the incisors signally pro- 

 truded, and chisel-shaped. 

 OCT.— dec, 1829. 2 A 



