76 INTRODUCTION. 



cation, although Ray had pointed out the way so 

 early as 1 683 ; and Artedi, and in particular Lin- 

 naeus, had called the attention of all scientific men 

 to the system of arrangement known by his name. 

 To the illustrious Swede, then, we are indebted 

 for that lucid order, by him first established, in 

 natural history, which, though it be artificial, has 

 served mainly to unravel the apparent confusion 

 observed in taking a general view of nature. From 

 his time, the principles of investigation being clearly 

 marked, it has been the constant aim of every 

 writer, to introduce new observations and improve- 

 ments in the descriptions and systematic locations, 

 till, with the enormous accumulation of new and 

 aberrant objects, the characteristics have not re- 

 mained strictly applicable to many of the sections, 

 and species in his system have imperatively risen 

 into types of new genera ; so that, by the progress of 

 science, the labours of Linnasus have, at length, in 

 a great measure, become confused and inapplicable. 

 This was the natural result in a science based 

 entirely on facts : as their number multiplied, mo- 

 difications in what were at first deemed general 

 conclusions, became more and more frequent and 

 necessary, and the numerous attempts at transposi- 

 tions of the groups of animals upon the artificial 

 Linnspan model, depending alone on generalised 

 notions of dentition, or on the form of the feet, 

 though they often added something to the general 

 stock of knowledge; and some had a temporary 

 success, led. nevertheless, to a general acquiescence 



