14 ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY. 



into classes ; and these lead us np to certain primary divisions, which, when put together, con- 

 stitute the Animal Kingdom. 



The classification of Linnaeus was an immense improvement upon all that had gone before, and 

 though it is now in a great measure superseded, it is still partially retained and often referred to in 

 modern systems : it may therefore be useful to present it to the reader. It was as follows: 



LIN.WKAN SYSTEM. 



According to this system, the objects comprehended within the animal kingdom are divided into six (lasses : 

 Mammalia or Mammiferous Animals, Birds, Amphibia or Amphibious Animals, Fishes, Insects, and Worms, 



which are thus distinguished 



CLASSES. 



Hot blood jVivip.mns I Mammals 



/ Oviparous II. Birds. 



Cold red blood -J ^j 



x t With vertebras 



Z ( Without vertebra Cold white blood j SSgSSSSta.*.:: ::i: VI 



Class. I. — Mammalia. 



The first class, or Mammalia, consists of such animals as produce living offspring, and nourish their young 

 ones with milk supplied from their own bodies ; and it comprises both the quadrupeds and the cetacea. 



This class is divided into seven orders, viz. : primates, bruta, fercv, glires, pecora, bclhuv, and cetacea or whales. 

 The characteristics of these were founded, for the most part, on the number and arrangement of the teeth ; 

 and on the form and construction of the feet, or of those parts in the seals, manati, and cetacea, which supply 

 the place of feet. 



I. Primates. — Having the upper front teeth, generally four in number, wedge-shaped and parallel ; and two 



teats situated on the breast, as the apes and monkeys. 



II. Bruta. — Having no front teeth in cither jaw ; and the feet armed with strong hoof-like nails, as the 



elephant. 



III. Fer.e. — Having in general six front teeth in each jaw ; a single canine tooth on each side in both jaws ; 



ami the grinders with conic projections, as the dogs and cats. 



IV. Glires. — Having in each jaw two long projecting front teeth, which stand close together ; and no canine 



teeth in either jaw, as the rats and mice. 

 V Pecora. — Having no front teeth in the upper jaw ; six or eight in the lower jaw, situated at a considerable 

 distance from the grinders ; and the feet with hoofs, as cattle and sheep. 



VI. Belli .e. — Having blunt wedge-shaped front teeth in both jaws ; and the feet with hoofs, as horses. 



VII. Cetacea. — Having spiracles, or breathing-holes on the head ; fins instead of fore-feet ; and a tail flat- 



tened horizontally, instead of hind-feet. This order consists of the narwhals, whales, cachalots, and 

 dolphins. 



Class II. — Birds. 



The second class, or Birds, comprises all such animals as have their bodies clad with feathers. This part of 

 zoology, being called Ornithology, is divided into six orders. 



1. Land Birds. 



I. Rapacious Birds (Aecipitres) . — Having the upper mandible hooked, and an angular projection on each side 



near the point, as the eagles, hawks, ami owds. 



II. Pies (Pica:). — Having their bills sharp at the edge, somewhat compressed at the sides, and convex on the 



top, as the crow. 



III. Passerine Birds i I'assera). — Having the bill conical and pointed, and the nostrils oval, open, and naked, 



as the sparrow and linnet. 



IV. Galli.naci:hi s Birds (Gallince). — Having the upper mandible arched, ami covering the lower one at the 



edge, and the nostrils arched over with a cartilaginous membrane, as the common poultry. 



2. Water Birds. 



V. "Waders (Gralhi). — Having a roundish bill, a fleshy tongue, and the legs naked above the knees, as the 



herons, plovers, and snipes. 



VI. Swimmers, (Aruera). — Having their bills broad at the top, and covered with a soft skin, and the feet 



webbed, as ducks and geese. 



Class TIT. — Amphibia. 



Tire third class, or Amphibia, included such animals as have a cold, and generally naked body, a lurid color, 

 and nauseous smell. They respire chiefly by lungs, hut they have the power of suspending respiration for a 



