60 MEMOIRS OF 



necessarily struck with the confusion of systems, their want 

 of conformity to the internal structure of animals, and the 

 heap of synonymes which multiplied species to infinity ; 

 and, as may be seen throughout this work ; accustomed 

 from the earliest age to entertain elevated views, and to 

 practise method, it was absolutely necessary, even for his own 

 future convenience, that he should rid classification of the in- 

 cumbrances which impeded its advancement. The manner 

 in which he accomplished this object, is displayed in the pre- 

 face to the first edition of the Regne Animal, in the most in- 

 teresting manner, together with the assistance he received 

 from his colleagues, especially his brother, M. Frederic Cu- 

 vier, whose observations on the teeth of mammalia were of 

 the greatest service to him in forming some of his minor 

 divisions. This preface well describes the state in which he 

 found the classification of animals, when he first undertook 

 to free it from its shackles, and is annexed to both editions. 

 The great outlines of his system may be given nearly in 

 M. Cuvier's own words : " There exists in nature four 

 principal forms, or general plans, according to which all 

 animals seem to have been modelled, and the ulterior divi- 

 sions of which, whatever name the naturalist may apply 

 to them, are but comparatively slight modifications, found- 

 ed on the developement, or addition of certain parts, which 

 do not change the essence of the plan." 



The introduction to these volumes contains the definition 

 of classes, orders, genera, &c., a general view of that 

 which is called organization, particularly that of animals, 

 its chemical composition, its forces, its intellectual and 

 physical functions, and the application of method to 

 the four great forms of the animal kingdom. From 

 the latter I must be allowed to make a short extract. 

 " In the first (form,) which is that of man, and the ani- 

 mals which most resemble him, the brain and the princi- 

 pal trunk of the nervous system are enclosed in a bony 

 envelope, which is composed of the skull and vertebrae : to 

 the sides of this middle column are attached the ribs and 

 bones of the limbs ; all of which form the frame-work of 

 the body. The muscles which give action to these bones 

 generally cover them, and the viscera are contained in the 

 head, and the trunk, or body. These are styled vertebral- 



