M. DE FERUSSAC. 539 



Nature's heraldry.* Nor did he define families (his genera) 

 nor genera (sub -genera) neatly ; and he merely indicated a 

 few typical species, leaving this work for others to perform. 

 He claimed the merit of the design and architecture of the 

 building, but its passages, and rooms, and closets were 

 sketched in chalk to permit the substitution of a more conve- 

 nient plan and neater furniture, if any one could furnish it. 



And so it was. It was scarcely published before reforms 

 were suggested, for authority had been discarded, and science 

 participated in the oscillatory spirit of the times which saw 

 in every innovation a merit. The new systems came from 

 Blainville and M. de Ferussac, the former the successor of 

 Lamarck, the latter a rich and learned amateur. M. de 

 Ferussac's was first published in 1822; and the man at once 

 made evident his weakness and vanity by the invention of a 

 new series of absurd and lengthy names, which he himself 

 could scarcely hope ever to see introduced into science. He 

 vainly hoped, too, to amend the classification of the animals 

 so strangely designated by mixing up in one the systems of 

 Cuvier and Lamarck ; and the attempt was a failure, for 

 every alteration was made for the worse. Thus the 

 Cirrhopods had been removed from the category of Mollusca 

 by Lamarck, but they were restored by M. de Ferussac, who 

 yielded here to the authority of Cuvier, just where it ought 

 to have been resisted ; and in the restoration he misplaced 

 them in the system. So also with his misalliance of the 

 Brachiopods ; but I deem it unnecessary to detain you with 

 any exposition of the views of this author, for I cannot trace 

 any influence they have ever had on the progress of Concho- 

 logy. He did, indeed, call more especial attention to a small 

 group of terrestrial Gasteropods which have an operculated 

 shell ; and as this character is correlative with some peculi- 

 arity in the organisation of the animals, he had some reason 

 to assume it as sufficient for the establishment of a new order 

 amongst the pulmonated mollusks. The order, which he 

 names "Pulmones opercules," embraces the genera Cyclo- 

 stoma and Helicina. There is still a difference of opinion in 

 relation to its value. 



M. de Blainville came well prepared for his task. He is 

 eminently distinguished for his knowledge and attainments 

 in anatomy, physiology, and natural history, and he had di- 

 rected especial attention to the molluscous tribes. But his 

 method of them has never got into use, partly from its com- 



* Of his classification Cuvier says himself, " Cette distribution des mol- 

 lusques m'appartient entierement, ainsi que le plupart de ses subdivisions 

 du second degre." Reg. Anirn. iii. 6. 



