156 ON SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 
These groups, like those of the Linnean ornithology, 
are, for the most part, natural: many, to be sure, are 
families, which of course have now been subdivided to 
a considerable extent by M. Cuvier and others ; but hi- 
therto no effort has been made to determine the truly 
natural or circular series, even so far as affects the pri- 
mary groups: we must, therefore, at once proceed to 
the next class. 
(209.) The entomological system of Linnzus, as we 
have already intimated, forms by far the most valuable 
part of his zoological labours ; for it not only surpasses in 
simplicity and perspicuity all that had been done before, 
but it makes a much nearer approach to the arrangement 
of nature than any of the modern methods. It must, 
however, be remembered that the superstructure of this 
system is built upon the foundation originally laid by 
the immortal Aristotle. It has been the custom of late 
years, while the name of its founder is still held 
in reverence, to reject these views, because they 
are totally at variance with the notions recently taken 
up on the same subject. But the cloud which has so 
long obscured the transcendent merits of these philoso- 
phers, in the arrangement of the annulose animals, has 
already begun to break, and a ray of light has penetrated 
through the gorgeous drapery which has been spread 
before our eyes: the time will soon arrive, when we 
shall wonder at our own credulity in so readily adopting 
new theories, and rejecting those which are old. Im- 
pressed with this conviction, we shall transcribe for the 
reader the definition of the class Jnsecta, as given by 
Linneus. This definition we wish to perpetuate ; for, 
although in some respects faulty, it is, upon the whole, 
in our opinion, infinitely more just and enlarged than 
any which have since been drawn up. 
(210.) Insects, as Linneus defines them, are small 
animals, breathing through lateral spiracles, armed on 
all sides with a bony skin, or covered with hair; fur- 
nished with many feet ; and movable antenne or horns, 
which project from the head, and are the probable in- 
