18 MEMOIR OF 



laid the foundation for the improvements made 

 in some of its departments by subsequent writers.* 

 In order to the due appreciation of his ingenuity 

 and labour, it may be requisite to commence this 

 memoir of him, with a sketch of the origin and 

 nature of Zoology ; and of the state in which it 

 existed at the time when he commenced his 

 researches. 



It may be inferred that mankind would, from 

 the earliest period, be led to make observations 

 on the inferior animals. Some degree of such 

 knowledge would often be essential to their own 

 safety and welfare. This would also be the case 

 with the more intelligent and pious portion of 

 them, from higher motives, since it is the charac- 

 teristic of such persons in all ages, that " they 

 regard the works of the Lord, and consider the 

 operation of His hands."f The naming of the 

 animals by Adam, recorded in the second chapter 

 of Genesis, implies some examination, or at least 

 some notice having been taken of their most 

 obvious distinctions, a supposition which will be 

 accepted by those who consider, that the Hebrew 

 language, in the state of it in which we now 

 possess the writings of Moses, was the original 

 language of mankind, or nearly so ; because the 

 names he gives to the animals are apparently 



* " He alone is the author of that system, which both 

 Ray and Linnaeus took for their guide, which was not 

 improved by the former, nor confessed by the latter. ' 

 Swainson. 



t Isaiah, v. 12 



