182 ON SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 



(233.) Notwithstanding the length of the above 

 table, we have found it impracticable to insert the 

 whole of the divisions and sub-genera which crowd the 

 pages of the Regne Animal. Many of these are desig- 

 nated only by their French names ; a practice highly 

 detrimental to that clearness and perspicuity of nomen- 

 clature which should be preserved in works of science : 

 and this, added to the want of synoptical tables through- 

 out the work, materially diminishes its utility for facile 

 reference. We have, however, enumerated the leading 

 groups ; and these will sufficiently explain to the stu- 

 dent the nature of the whole, and guide him in his 

 search after the lesser divisions. 



(234.) We have now given an exposition of the two 

 most celebrated systems of modern times ; namely, 

 those of Linnaeus and of Cuvier. They are the only two 

 which have embraced the whole of the animal kingdom, 

 from the higher groups down to 1 the lowest. Several 

 othe/s, indeed, have been given to the world ; but they 

 are rather compiled than original schemes ; and, from 

 not carrying with them internal evidence of adequate 

 knowledge, have received neither support from the 

 scientific, nor popularity from the public. These may, 

 therefore, be passed over in silence. But there are 

 others, relating only to particular classes of animals, 

 which are not only highly important as emanating from 

 men justly celebrated in the ranks of science, but equally 

 so as having furnished materials of such value, that 

 without them even the Systema Naturae., or the Regne 

 Animal could never have been given to the world. 

 Like those celebrated works, the classifications we are 

 now to notice come also under the head of artificial 

 systems, because they merely tend to illustrate the pe- 

 culiarities of the individual when viewed by itself, 

 without any reference to its analogies or representations 

 in the general scheme of nature. The partial system 

 of Illiger is confined to quadrupeds and birds ; while 

 those of Vieillot and Temminck are restricted to the 

 latter only. Those most celebrated in entomology have 

 emanated from De Geer, Fabricius, Latreille, Leach, 



