RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 35 
we trace the spirit of a philosopher. The services 
he rendered natural history, at the time he wrote, 
were immense; nor will they ever be forgotten. 
His unrivalled invention of nomenclature, which 
came from his hands, as it were, perfeet, will re- 
main of undiminished value so long as science exists ; 
while the simplicity of those rules by which he 
arranged all the productions of nature then known, 
cannot be too closely imitated, however different 
may be the series in which these productions are 
disposed. He may be said to have created a lan- 
guage, peculiar to natural history, for the sole ex- 
pression of the ideas pertaining to it :—a language 
which all, even his greatest opponents, are con- 
strained to adopt, if they desire to be understood. 
Linneus excelled in botany (for he loved it much 
more*), rather than zoology: but in both, his 
systems are confessedly artificial: the first will 
long be studied as a preliminary introduction to the 
natural system, but the latter, having served its pur- 
pose, above all others, in advancing the cultivation 
of zoology, has almost passed away in form, although 
not in spirit. His unrivalled invention of nomen- 
clature, and the clear and lucid manner in which he 
arranged his materials, gave a facility to the culti- 
vation of natural history, perfectly delightful; and 
—_— ——— -— 

* This is quite evident, from observing the superior finish 
he bestowed upon his botanical works. And the following 
passage, in one of his letters to Ellis, places this partiality in 
a strong light: — “ I care little about the larva of the iguana; 
but our mutual friend, Dr. Gardner, mentions some dried 
plants, destined for me. These { shall be very glad to have, 
whenever they arrive.” — Linn. Corr. i. p. 178 
DG 
