384 HISTORY OF ZOOLOGY. 



those which have horns, some have them solid 

 throughout, as the stag ; others, for the most part, 

 hollow . . . Some cast their horns, some do not." 

 If it be replied, that we could not, by means of such 

 characters, form a tenable zoological system; we 

 again ask by what right we assume Aristotle to 

 have made or attempted a systematic arrangement, 

 when what he has written, taken in its natural 

 order, does not admit of being construed into a 

 system. 



Again, what is the object of any classification? 

 This, at least, among others. To enable the person 

 who uses it to study and describe more conveniently 

 the objects thus classified. If, therefore, Aristotle 

 had formed or adopted any system of arrangement, 

 we should see it in the order of the subjects in his 

 work. Accordingly, so far as he has a system, he 

 professes to make this use of it. At the beginning 

 of the fifth Book, where he is proceeding to treat 

 of the different modes of generation of animals, he 

 says, " As we formerly made a Division of animals 

 according to their kinds, we must now, in the same 

 manner, give a general survey of their History 

 (Oewpiav). Except, indeed, that in the former case 

 we made our commencement by a description of 

 man, but in the present instance we must speak of 

 him last, because he requires most study. We must 

 begin then with those animals which have shells : 

 we must go on to those which have softer cover- 

 ings, as Crustacea, soft animals, and insects; after 



