Review of the Development of Natural History as a Science. 



all animals. The magnitude of the task will be appreciated, when 

 we consider the confusion and ignorance then prevailing in the science, 

 and the vast extent and variety of species. These now number two 

 hundred and thirty thousand. 



But Linnaeus did more. Prior to his time, research, confined 

 mainly to continental Europe, had, as I have already hinted, been 

 carried on in a limited and desultory manner. Each naturalist had 

 studied his own immediate neighborhood or province, describing the 

 species he found in the vernacular tongue. From want of communi- 

 cation, naturalists were but little acquainted with each other's labors. 

 It became necessary to have a common scientific language and mode of 

 expression that should be intelligible to all scholars, and at the same 

 time embrace the elements of simplicity and adaptability. The bino- 

 mial system, devised by Linnaeus, contained exactly these elements, 

 and the strongest proof we have of this fact, was its approval and 

 adoption by all naturalists. The confusion that had before existed on 

 account of the different names and languages employed, was now re- 

 lieved by the use of one language — the Latin. 



This achievement, while it placed Linnaeus in the front rank of 

 investigators, gave an unusual impetus to the study of natural history. 

 We find, however, that Linneeus' classification did not meet with the 

 same success. Its defects did not escape criticism from Lamarck, 

 Ehrenberg, Von Baer, Cuvier, and other great naturalists. Had we 

 time, it would be interesting to review in detail the labors of these 

 scientists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and observe how 

 slowly, step by step, the truths of science were discovered and estab- 

 lished. Each contributed, more or less, to the final result. But all, 

 with the exception of Cuvier, failed to reach the grand principles of 

 classification. 



It was Cuvier, then, who so far unlocked the secrets of creation, as 

 to discover the plans upon which all animals are built. When he 

 announced his theory, dividing the whole animal kingdom into four 

 classes : Eadiates, Mollusks, Articulates, and Vertebrates, the scientific 

 world stood amazed, as though a revelation had been made from 

 Heaven. Cuvier's discoveries Avere, however, the legitimate product 

 of intelligent thought and research. The founder of comparative 

 anatomy was not one who skimmed over the surface of things. 

 Others had studied external and specific characters ; Cuvier went 

 deeper. He examined the internal organization and relations of animals. 

 He tells us that comparison was the secret of his success. The result 

 embodied the four plans of creation above mentioned. These divisions 

 lie based on certain characters entering into the structure of animals. 



