To JOHN RAY, an ornament of this University, I would 

 ascribe the merit of proposing a classification of the Zootoka, 

 which first claims attention as in any respect an advance 

 upon that taught by the Father of Natural History. It is 

 given in a tabular form in Ray's Synopsis Metliodica Anima- 

 lium Quadrupedum, and is as follows: (See p. 5). 



In this Table the principle of the subordination of cha- 

 racters, or of their different values as applicable to groups of 

 different degrees of generalisation, is clearly exemplified ; and 

 herein perhaps is its chief value. But, in the exclusion of 

 the Dipoda and Apoda of Aristotle, Ray manifests a less 

 philosophical appreciation of the extent and essential nature 

 of the class Zootoka than his great predecessor. He is also 

 inferior in the discernment of the real significance of certain 

 modifications of zoological characters. Aristotle was not de- 

 ceived either by the claw-like shape of the hoofs of the camel, 

 or by the degree of subdivision of those of the elephant ; he 

 knew that both quadrupeds were, nevertheless, essentially 

 Ungulate 1 . 



LINNAEUS first definitely and formally restored the great 

 natural class I am now treating of to its Aristotelian inte- 

 grity; and, applying to it that happy instinct of discernment 

 of significant outward characters which had enabled him to 

 effect so much for the sister Science of Botany, he proposed 

 for it the name MAMMALIA. 



The active cultivation of the science of observation stimu- 

 lated by Ray, Linnseus and Buffon, had brought to light 

 instances, e. g. in certain lizards, of viviparous quadrupeds 

 which differ in structures of classific importance from the 

 Zootoka tetrapoda of Aristotle. Certain forms of true fishes 

 were now known to bring forth their young alive, as well as 

 the fish-like Ketocle. The term Zootoka ceased to be appli- 

 cable, exclusively, to the class of which Aristotle had sketched 

 out the bounds; and Naturalists gladly accepted and have 

 since retained the neat and appropriate and truly distinctive 



1 'Kai avrl ovu< 



