2 2 PHOCEEDIKGS OF THE 



the natural character is constantly used in the artificial zoological 

 system, and how really natural much of the primary part of the 

 classification is. Dividing the 7\nimalia into six classes, Linnajus 

 characterizes each one by the positive characters of its organs 

 of assimilation and respiration. He considered also the mas- 

 ticatory and digestive apparatus, the locomotive and generative 

 powers, and the nature of the outward covering. He gives the 

 natural characters of the orders, but arranges them for classi- 

 ficjitory purposes by the distinction of the three kinds of teeth. 

 That idea was not Cuvier's, as is believed and constantly taught. 

 Moreover, Linnseus did not forget to consider the extremities as 

 possible classificatory elements. He was the first w^ho, after 

 establishing the order Primates, placed Man amongst the animals. 

 This was naturally resented ; and it led in after years to a bitter 

 criticism on the jjart of M. Lamettrie, wdio complained to Voltaire 

 that Linnfeus liad associated man with the pig and horse. Indig- 

 nant, he shouted "He is a horse himself; " and he got the reply, 

 " Yous conviendrez que, si j\l. Liunaeus est un cheval, c'est le 

 premier de tons les chevaux." 



The classification of the Insecta alone would have carried down 

 the name of Linnseus to posterity. It was the result of his usual 

 careiul study of very many species, and of a critical analysis of 

 their most important external organs. 



The class was in dire confusion before Linnieus studied it, and 

 he founded those seven orders which have lasted, with some trifling 

 alterations, to the present day. Eacli order was founded mainly 

 on the nature, texture, and number or absence of the wings ; and 

 the generic characters relied upon were the differences of the 

 antenna', the elytra, the head, rostrum or mouth, in the case of 

 tlie Coleoptera. In the HemijJtera the rostrum w-as of primary 

 classificatory importance; in the Lepidoptera the antenna) and 

 wings ; and in the Neuroptera the mouth, wings, and tail. In the 

 Diptera the mouth or proboscis was considered ; and in the 

 Hymenoptera tiie mouth, wings, and sting. 



Tiie Aptera contained many foims which are now placed 

 beyond the Insecta ; and the eyes, tail, and number of feet were 

 made ot primary classificatory importance. 



Possibly Linnaeus knew some of the other classes as well as he 

 did tlie Insecta ; but the impression left on most naturalists will 

 be that this one was his special study. 



He clearly recognized the relation of plant and insect ; and, 

 indeed, one of his |)upils, I'orskfil, wrote a work on the Insecta, 

 classifying them by their being found upon, or being destruc- 

 tive to, cerlaiii special ])lants. 



The excellent terminology and the method of using it by 

 Linnteus influenced the zoological work of Artedi, his curly 

 friend, who established a number of genera of fish, making also 

 progress ti wards a natural ariangcnieut of them. Linnaeus did 

 not improve on this classification; and it a[)pear3 that Cuvier 

 considered his work retrogressive. 



