CUVIER. 193 



'' Fossil Bones," and the great book, the " Regne 

 Animal " (the " Animal Kingdom "), was re-issued. 

 In this last work Cuvier immortalized himself; and 

 his classification has been of the greatest possible 

 value to his successors. He reduced the six classes 

 of animals which had been suggested by the 

 ancients and Linnaeus, namely, quadrupeds, birds, 

 reptiles, fishes, insects, and worms, to four, or 

 vertebrated animals (animals with backbones), 

 molluscous animals (such as snails and oysters), 

 articulated animals (insects and crabs), and radiated 

 animals (such as corals and sea anemones). 

 Although this classification has become modified, 

 still Cuvier gave the method of true classification 

 in animals. One or two points or peculiarities 

 were not to be considered at the expense of others 

 which belonged to organs of great importance to 

 the animal. He asserted that all the structures of 

 the animal must be studied, and physiology as 

 well as anatomy must be considered. The most 

 important structures must be considered first of 

 all, and the grand divisions of classification must 

 rest upon them. In the " Regne Animal " Cuvier 

 commences with man, whom he places in a genus 

 by himself, and recognizes only one species diversi- 

 fied by varieties or races. In 1818 Cuvier visited 

 London, and remained there for about six weeks, 

 receiving every scientific and social honour. He 

 mixed freely in scientific society, and was received 

 by George IV. On being consulted by his Majesty 

 about our national collections, he said that if all 

 I. O 



