84* STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



in all the branches of zoology ; and of introducing 

 several intermediate groups between those which 

 Linnaeus termed orders and genera. But all this 

 could not be done without a more rigorous in- 

 vestigation, into the structure of animals, than was 

 formerly required. The study of internal com- 

 parative anatomy was therefore called in to aid 

 zoological classification ; without which it was found 

 impossible to understand aright the true nature of 

 many of the molluscous animals of Linnaeus, or of 

 those stupendous remains of extinct animals found 

 in a fossil state. Now, had the employment of this 

 new science been limited to such and similar cases 

 which really required its aid, from the insufficiency 

 of external distinctions, all would have been well ; 

 but the leaders of this school, more especially 

 M. Cuvier, delighted with the success that attended 

 their first researches, proceeded at once to proclaim 

 that internal anatomy was the only sure basis of the 

 natural classification ; quite forgetting the fact, that 

 external structure was just as important for this 

 purpose as internal anatomy ; and that the one, in 

 most cases, is but an index to the other. To bring 

 this home to the conviction of every one, and as an 

 illustration of our meaning, let us look to a gallina- 

 ceous bird — the common fowl. If, by its general 

 shape and external organisation, we can judge of its 

 habits, its mode of life, the nature of its food, and of 

 its powers of locomotion ; and if the knowledge so 

 gained, is quite sufficient for every purpose of re- 

 cognition and of classification ; where would be the 

 necessity of proceeding further ? why should these 

 definitions be burthened with others, taken from the 



