RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 37 
cumbrous and inextricable mass of “ good-for-nothing 
lore,” which confused, without instructing, the stu- 
dent. The amiable and gentle Ray, on the contrary, 
wanted the courage to do this: his own botanical 
works * are loaded with descriptions, even then ob- 
solete, from the early writers, and he ingrafted the 
same useless lore, as he himself confesses, into the 
pure nervous descriptions of his master Willughby. 
(16.) The publication of the Systema Nature gave 
to the study of Natural History a new form and a new 
life. Naturalists were astonished and delighted to 
see so much information condensed in so small a 
compass, and arranged in such luminous order. In 
those days, no other knowledge was sought for than 
the correct name of an animal ora plant, —whether 
it was known or unknown,—and what were its 
distinguishing characters. No wonder, therefore, 
that he who so admirably succeeded in communi- 
cating this information, insured immediate applause, 
and was suddenly raised to the rank of an oracle. 
His merits could be at once appreciated ; no course 
of previous study was requisite to comprehend them, 
—no train of laborious investigation was essential to 
reveal their beauties. This was the true cause of 
the brilliant success experienced by Linnzus, and 
of the rapid adoption of his system. He rose into 
favour with his sovereign. Natural History counted 
kings and princes among her patrons. Linnean 
Societies were formed in different parts of Europe; 
and the disciples of the great Swede travelled and 
7 
* Particularly in his Stirpium Europzarum extra Britan- 
nias Nascentium Sylloge,— a compilation from the works of 
Ciusius, Bauhinius, F. Columna, &c. 
Do 
