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Notice of British Naturalists. 151 
subjects according to a coarse, outward resemblance ; and ridiculed 
amore accurate system of classification. 
The mind of man is ever more inclined to follow some one 
leader, and to lean upon the labors of others, than to strike out 
truths for itself. Thus it has always happened, that a fondness 
for certain popular systems has chained down the general intellect 
toone point. Buffon perceiving the popularity of the writings 
of Linneus, foreseeing to what it would lead, and endeavor- 
ing to avert this evil, in this way rushed into the contrary ex- 
treme; he thus discarded all system but what he chose to call 
the natural one, “ ne seroit—il pas,” says he, “ plus naturel, et 
plus vrai de dire qu'un dne est un dne, et un chat, un chat que 
de vouloir, sans savoir pourquoi, qwun ane soit un cheval, et un 
chat un loup—cervier ?” 
On Pennant’s return home in 1767, he was elected a fellow of 
the Royal Society ; and in 1768, we find him engaged in pub- 
lishing a second edition of his British Zoology. Like Ray, 
he was, throughout life, celebrated for his frequent tours through 
Great Britain, accounts of which he published from time to time. 
His object in these journeys was to study natural history in the 
different parts of the country; but he paid attention to every 
thing of interest; and especially to antiquities. In 1770 he vis- 
ited Scotland, with the condition of which, strange as it may 
Seem at the present day, the English were then almost unac- 
quainted. “] had the hardiness,” says he, “to venture on a 
Journey to the remotest part of North Britain, a country almost 
8s little known to its southern brothers as Kamtschatka. I 
brought home a favorable account of the land. Whether it will 
ank me or not, I cannot say, but from the report I made, and 
showing that it might be visited with safety, it has ever since 
®en inondée with southern visitors.” In 1772, he made another 
Visit to that country, and went as far as the Hebrides. His only 
Companion in these journeys was a self taught artist, whom he 
“upporied, and who illustrated his different works with views, 
®ngraved in a very excellent style. Besides these trips to Scot- 
land, he visited Ireland, as well as the north of England and Wales, 
and published an account of the Topography of London. All these 
tours he performed on horseback ; a mode of travelling to which 
he attributed the excellent health which he enjoyed through life. 
¥ thus moving about, he acquired much information for his va- 
