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, perfect, 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. 

 Linnaeus 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. 

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