RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 5 



either of Aristotle or of Linnaeus, has been framed, 

 it is easy for a host of imitators to follow, each 

 making some fresh modifications, or some small 

 improvements upon the models before him; and 

 thus dazzling the world with a new system, which 

 the inventor would never have composed, had he 

 been left to his own unassisted powers of com- 

 bination. In estimating, therefore, the respective 

 merits of the two classes of naturalists here alluded 

 to, we shall be obliged to assign a much lower 

 station to some names than has been done by our 

 predecessors, and transfer that praise which has 

 been bestowed upon them to others whose labours, 

 although less brilliant, have more contributed to 

 the advancement of science. 



(4k) In reference to the above observations, we 

 shall now take a rapid sketch of the history of 

 zoology under the following epochs : — 1. Its found- 

 ation by Aristotle ; 2. From the revival of learning 

 to the time of Linnaeus ; and, 3. From the appear- 

 ance of the Systema Naturae of Linnaeus, to that of 

 the Regne Animal by Cuvier. 



(5.) The state of natural history, in the early ages 

 of the world, must ever remain more a matter of 

 conjecture and of theory than of positive fact. Some 

 acquaintance with the properties of animals was cer- 

 tainly possessed by our first parents, who were en- 

 abled, by the Divine agency, to assign names to tne 

 beasts of the field, and to distinguish such as were 

 adapted to their wants. The wisdom of the wisest 

 of men, also, was extended to the works of that 

 God whom he worshipped ; but these and similar 

 b 3 



