ANIMALS. -J-Wi 



saine information nray bf obtaiiit'd by a ple?.saiiter and an easier 

 meti/od. 



It was the great success of Ray's method, that soon after 

 produced such a variety of attempts in the same manner; but 

 almost all less simple, and more obscure. Mr Klein's method 

 is briefly as follows ; he makes the power of changing place, the 

 characteristic mark of animals in general ; and he takes their 

 distinctions from their aptitude and fitness for such a change. 

 Some change piace by means of feet, or some similar contri- 

 vance ; others have wings and feet : some can change place only 

 in water, and have only fins : some go upon earth, without any 

 feet at all : some change place, by moving their shell ; and some 

 inove only at a certain time of the year. Of such, however, as 

 do not move at all, he takes no notice. The quadrupeds that 

 move chiefly by means of four feet upon land he divides into two 

 orders. The first are the hoofed kind ; and the second, the claw 

 kind. Each of these orders is divided into four families. The 

 first family of the hoofed kind, are the single hoofed, such as the 

 horse, ass, &c. Tlie second family are such as have the hoof 

 cloven into two parts, such as the cow, &c. The third family 

 have the hoof divided into three parts, and in this family is found 

 only the rhinoceros. The fourth family have the hoof divided 

 into five parts ; and in this is only to be found the elephant. 

 With respect to the clawed kind, the first family comprehends 

 those that have but two claws on each foot, as the camel ; the 

 second family have three claws ; the third, four ; and the fourth, 

 five. This method of taking the distinctions of animals from 

 the organs of motion, is ingenious ; but is, at the same time, in- 

 complete ; and, besides, the divisions into which it must neces- 

 sarily fall are inadequate ; since, for instance, in his family with 

 two claws, there is but one animal ; whereas, in his family with 

 five claws, there are above a hundred. 



Brisson, who has laboured this subject with great accuracy, 

 divides animated nature into nine classes ; namely, quadrupeds ; 

 cetaceous animals, or those of the whale kind ; birds ; reptiles, 

 or those of the serpent kind :■ cartilaginous fishes ; sjiinous fishes; 

 shelled animals ; insects ; and worms. He divides the quadru- 

 peds into eighteen orders ; and takes their distinctions from the 

 mnnber and form of their teeth. 



JJut of all those whose systems have been adopted and admir- 



