PROGRESS OF ICHTHYOLOGY. 401 



the almost exclusive employment of his distribu- 

 tions of classes, however imperfect and artificial 

 they might be. 



And even 1 * if Linnaeus had had no other merit 

 than the impulse he gave to the pursuit of natural 

 science, this alone would suffice to immortalize his 

 name. In rendering natural history easy, or at least 

 in making it appear so, he diffused a general taste 

 for it. The great took it up with interest; the 

 young, full of ardour, rushed forwards in all direc- 

 tions, with the sole intention of completing his 

 system. The civilized world was eager to build 

 the edifice with Linnaeus had planned. 



This spirit, among other results, produced voy- 

 ages "of natural historical research, sent forth by 

 nations and sovereigns. George the Third of Eng- 

 land had the honour of setting the example in this 

 noble career, by sending out the expeditions of 

 Byron, Wallis, and Carteret, in 1765. These were 

 followed by those of Bougainville, Cook, Forster, 

 and others. Russia also scattered several scientific 

 expeditions through her vast dominions ; and pupils 

 of Linnaeus sought the icy shores of Greenland and 

 Iceland, in order to apply his nomenclature to the 

 productions of those climes. But we need not 

 attempt to convey any idea of the vast stores of 

 natural historical treasures which were thus col- 

 lected from every part of the globe. 



I shall not endeavour to follow Cuvier in giving 



12 Cuvier, p. 88, 

 VOL. III. D D 



